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.

The latest major accident rates for Great Britain covering 2017-18, show an increase from the previous year for the forestry sector and a decrease for the wood products sector.  Over the longer term, the rates for both sectors have generally declined, but they remain higher than the averages in agriculture and manufacturing respectively (Table 7.3 and Figure 7.1).

Table 7.3 Accidents to employees¹ in forestry and wood processing³, 2013-14 – 2017-18

^{Source: Health & Safety Executive.}

^Notes:

^{1. Employees only; excludes self-employed.}

^{2. 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.}

^{3. Excludes other wood-using industries.}

^{4. Major accidents include fatal accidents, which averaged around 1 per year for forestry and 2 per year for wood processing.  There were no fatal accidents in the period shown for pulp, paper and paper products.}

Figure 7.1 Accidents to employees : Total reported accidents per 1000 employees, 2004-05 to 2017-18

^{Source: Health & Safety Executive.}

^Notes:

^{1. Employees only; excludes self-employed.}

^{2. 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.}

^{3. As a result of a change in reporting requirements, data from 2012-13 is not directly comparable with previous years.}

Additional resources

Sources chapter: Employment and businesses