Risk assessments 'key to reducing accident numbers'

Bosses have been told that carrying out suitable and thorough risk assessments is important as the number of workers forced to take time away from work due to injuries suffered in the workplace costs the economy significant amounts of money.

Vladimir Spilda, the European commissioner for employment, social affairs and equal opportunities, claims millions of workers in the European Union take up to three days off from work as a result of workplace injuries which costs a lot of money.

Employers can take steps to reduce this figure by carrying out risk assessments of the dangers staff may face in their working environment and apply suitable safety measures as a response, he added.

"Millions of workers in the EU are involved in accidents which force them to stay at home for at least three working days at an enormous cost to the economy. Risk assessment is the key to reducing these figures," Mr Spilda said.

He added that appropriate safety management must be implemented for the assessment to be worthwhile.

The Health and Safety Executive has recently warned construction site managers to ensure they have analysed the potential dangers present in their workplace to protect children and other unauthorised people who may enter.