30/06/2010 - Health and safety induction urged
More than a third of employees who have suffered workplace injuries did not received health and safety inductions at the time of joining work, a new survey has found.
According to National Accident Helpline, 35% of the 121 claimants it questioned over phone were not given a heath and safety induction which usually provides information such as first aiders in the firm, use of equipment and machinery, manual handling and fire exits.
Beth Powell, National Accident Helpline consumer director, said: "This result shows that UK organisations still need to improve the way that they look after their staff's safety at work and a health and safety induction for all new starters would be a key step towards this."
According to statistics from the Health and Safety Executive workplace injuries resulted in the loss of 4,711,000 working days across the country in 2008-09.
Among these, 948,000 work day were lost due to slips, trips or falls; 897,000 from a handling or lifting injury; and 537,000 because of injuries caused by a falling object.
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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