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Work accidents are apparently a much larger problem in Scotland than in England and Wales it has been revealed. The total cost of injuries in Scotland in days taken off from work in 2009-10 was £187 million, which makes up 10% of Great Britain's total.
The inquiry was launched by the Scottish Affairs Committee with the intention of studying closely the areas which are of concern, after the National Audit Office (NAO) performed an overview of health and safety in Scotland.
The chairman of the committee stated that the inquiry would try to determine why workplace injuries were higher in Scotland compared to other parts of the UK. Talks of a reduction in health and safety staff due to a 35% cut in the budget and how this will affect its services, is also being examined.
The NAO findings suggested the reason Scotland has a higher percentage of work related injuries is due a greater number of Scotland's workforce being employed in higher risk jobs, compared to the rest of the UK. These higher risk jobs typically involve construction and agriculture.
The Health and Safety Executive reported that work accidents in Scotland during 2009-10 added up to an estimated total of 2.5 million working days lost due to illness and work injuries.
The overview from the NAO showed that in Scotland alone there were 2,625 reported major injuries, 8,039 of those injuries involving more than three days off work as well as 23 fatalities.
Individuals who suffer personal injury in work accidents may be entitled to make compensation claims against their employers.
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