Introduction

All employers have a duty of care to protect their employees whilst at work and keep them informed about health and safe.

With over 200 deaths and approximately 30,000 serious injuries^* caused in the workplace every year, it is important that employers are aware of what their responsibilities regarding the health and safety of their workforce are.

Protecting employees from workplace hazards creates a number of benefits:-

• Creation of a safe, motivated and productive workforce
• Fulfilment of legal obligations, reducing the likelihood of large fines, prosecution and potential imprisonment.
• Demonstrates you as a responsible employer to employees, customers, competitors and shareholders.
• Reduction of costs to business in terms of lost working days, increased insurance costs etc (see graphic)

Each year:

• over 1 million injuries and 2.3 million cases of ill-health are experienced by workers;
• around 40 million working days are lost to business; and
• over 25 000 individuals are forced to give up work because of injury or ill health.

These cost British employers an estimated £3.3 to £6.5 billion each year.

Don't let your employees become part of the statistics ! *

The following section is therefore intended to provide you with a summary reference guide to the Health and Safety legislation currently in place that is designed to protect employers, employees and the general public from injury whilst at work.

Being struck by a moving vehicle is the second most common cause of workplace death, accounting for 17% of all fatal injuries. This guide is designed to be useful background information to aid you in the specification and selection of high visibility garments that protect and perform against the hazards posed to your employees.

And ultimately to help stop one of your employees becoming part of the statistics.

* HSE Statistics 2002/3