PPC116 | Health and Safety
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published its annual statistics together with a list of the top ten health and safety prosecutions of 2023. They present some harrowing reading,
with deep personal implications for the people involved – topped off with a large dose of fines for those found failing their responsibilities.
These fines demonstrate the serious financial consequences of failing to meet H&S obligations, which leads to fatalities and life-changing injuries. As an employer, it’s imperative to ensure health and safety standards are maintained.
£10m
The highest fine of 2023 went to Transport for London (TfL) following the Croydon tram disaster. Alongside this, Tram Operations Ltd was issued a fine of £4m.
£6.7m
Network Rail was fined following the Stonehaven derailment in 2020, which caused three deaths.
£3.5m
Morrisons fined for failing to safeguard an employee with epilepsy, who died after falling from a stairway.
£3.5m
Waste management firm fined after two workers died in separate incidents.
£2.25m
SERCO fined for breaching H&S obligations after the death of a custody officer.
£2.2m
Combined fine on two major transport companies after a man was hit with a heavy goods vehicle.
£1.6m + jail
In Birmingham, two directors jailed after wall collapse killed five; both companies issued a combined fine.
£1.4m
Cider manufacturer fined after a man was struck and killed by a security barrier.
£1.275m
Birmingham company fined after a maintenance worker was crushed to death at a quarry in Leicestershire.
£1.2m
Network Rail fined after a man was crushed to death while performing maintenance work.
“These fines demonstrate the serious financial consequences of failing to meet H&S obligations, which leads to fatalities and life-changing injuries.”
| 2m Work days lost due to work-related illness and injuries. |
8m People suffering from work-related illness and injuries. |
£20.7bn Estimated cost for work-related injuries and ill-health. |
875k Suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety.
473k Cases of work-related musculoskeletal conditions.
61k Workers sustained work-related injuries.
60.65k Injuries to workers reported under RIDDOR.
2,268 Cases of mesothelioma (asbestos-related deaths)
135 Workers killed in work-related accidents.
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Health and safety advice line and template library for BPCA members
BPCA’s Quest health and safety service ensures your business fully complies with health and safety regulations. This is a requirement for all companies, regardless of size. BPCA Quest offers an easy and convenient solution for those needing in-house expertise or looking to benchmark their internal resources.
Additionally, the health and safety service can provide valuable support for SMEs in maintaining compliance with health and safety standards.
What’s included?
- BPCA Quest H&S advice line
- Talk to an experienced health and safety specialist for any queries or guidance on finding documents
- BPCA Quest website – bpca.questcover.com
- Use over 130 health and safety template documents, which cover all the core documents and a health and safety policy.
- One-to-one meetings – questcover.com/121
- You can book a health and safety ‘health check’ with an adviser.
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