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From April 2012, accidents involving absence from work of at least seven days are required to be reported to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). Prior to this time, reporting was required for absences of at least three days.

Accident rates in forestry and wood products have tended to decline in recent years, but are still higher than the averages in agriculture and manufacturing respectively (Table 7.3 and Figure 7.1).

Table 7.3 Accidents to employees in forestry and wood processing2, 2011-12 – 2015-16

Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)1 Major Accidents3  Total Reported 
  Number Rate/1000 employees Number Rate/1000 employees
Forestry        
2011-12 48 4.9 153 15.5
2012-13 54 5.1 125 11.8
2013-14 51 3.8 116 8.6
2014-15 26 1.7 101 6.5
2015-16 provisional 34 2.0 110 6.4
Wood products        
2011-12 161 3.1 654 12.4
2012-13 141 2.3 491 9.0
2013-14 155 2.8 523 9.6
2014-15 136 2.4 510 8.9
2015-16 provisional 128 2.5 558 10.9
Pulp, paper & paper products        
2011-12 90 1.6 393 6.9
2012-13 76 1.4 323 5.9
2013-14 85 1.5 322 5.8
2014-15 75 1.3 303 5.4
2015-16 provisional 67 1.4 284 6.1

Source: Health & Safety Executive.

Notes:

1. Categories are based on the UK Standard Industrial Classification(SIC 2007) categories. Further details on the SIC codes used are provided in the Sources: Employment and businesses page.

2. Excludes other wood-using industries.

3. Major accidents include fatal accidents, which averaged around 1 per year for forestry and wood processing, and was lower for pulp, paper and paper products.

4. As a result of a change in reporting requirements, data from 2012-13 is not directly comparable with previous years.

Figure 7.1 Accidents to employees : Total reported accidents per 1000 employees
fs2017fig7-1.png

Source: Health & Safety Executive.

Notes:

1. Categories are based on the UK Standard Industrial Classification(SIC 2007) categories. Further details on the SIC codes used are provided in the Sources: Employment and businesses page.

2. As a result of a change in reporting requirements, data from 2012-13 is not directly comparable with previous years.

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