Abstract
This chapter represents a courageous attempt to compare the British and Italian occupational health and safety (OHS) incident trends from the 1980s to the mid-2000s. It compares incident trends per active worker and among main economic sectors. This comparative analysis is challenging due to the fundamental difference in the methods adopted to record OHS incidents in Britain and Italy, and the changes that have occurred in the methods used to classify incidents, worker numbers and economic sectors. The chapter also analyses the available data on the enforcement activities conducted by British and Italian OHS enforcement institutions. The chapter also attempts to critically account for the mis- and under-reporting of these crimes and the wrong social and political perceptions that this causes.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Surveillance of Work-Related and Occupational Respiratory Disease (SWORD), Occupational skin surveillance (EPIDERM), Occupational Physicians Reporting Activity (OPRA), The Health and Occupation Research network (THOR).
- 2.
The LFS data collected to create the annual ratio has been taken from the spring figures every year between 1986 and 1996 and for the period January–March between 1997 and 2009. In order to make the data comparable, the Office of National Statistics produces Person Weight variables to allow the data to be generalisable to the wider national population. The weights used are WEIGHT1 from 1992 to 2000, PWT03 from 2000 to 2006, PWT07 from 2007 to 2009. Thereafter, a cross tabulation between Region of Usual Residence (Row = URESRG from 1986 to 1992 and URSMC from 1992 to 2008) was used to exclude Northern Ireland figures. The dataset was divided also by Industry Division in main Job (Column: INDDIV), to create ration between Basic Economic Activities (layer: INECAC).
- 3.
In order to make meaningful and accurate analysis of occupational health and safety incident trends since the end of the 1980s, the analysis conducted for fatal injuries in Britain has been done through the use of five- and six-year averages. Although this system might not offer a very accurate representation of any improvements occurring in recent years, it represents a useful tool for analysing longer-term trends, and helps reduce the errors and misinterpretations caused by sharp changes of incidents between years. The periods used for fatal injuries only are 1986/87–1990/91 (1987–1991), 1991/92–1997/98 (1992–1998), 1998/99–2002/03 (1999–2003), and 2003/04–2007/08 (2004–2008).
- 4.
By temporarily excluding the deaths caused by this tragic event from the trends, I have no intention to offend the victims (and people close to them) and would like to apologise in advance if they are.
- 5.
Injuries resulting in more than three days off work, excluding fatal injuries.
- 6.
In order to make meaningful and accurate analysis of occupational health and safety incident trends since the end of the 1980s, the analysis conducted for fatal injuries in Britain has been done through the use of five- and six-year averages. Although this system might not offer a very accurate representation of any improvements occurring in recent years, it represents a useful tool for analysing longer trends, and helps reduce the errors and misinterpretations caused by sharp changes of incidents between years. The periods used for fatal injuries only are 1986/87–1990/91 (1987–1991), 1991/92–1997/98 (1992–1998), 1998/99–2002/03 (1999–2003), and 2003/04–2007/08 (2004–2008).
- 7.
In Italian these are called itinere, or itinerate incidents .
- 8.
The analysis of the fatal incidents per 100,000 workers is conducted between three- and five-year periods. This is to compensate for annual disparities and to observe lengthier trends. Therefore, the three and five-years periods are 1985–1987, 1988–1990, 1991–1995, 1996–2000 and 2001–2005. In addition, the comparison of the figures between 1985 and 1990 and those between 1991 and 2005 are not fully comparable due to the industrial classification changes from ISIC-2 to ISIC-3.
- 9.
The analysis of the non-fatal incidents per 100,000 workers is conducted between three-year periods. This is to compensate for annual disparities and to observe lengthier trends. The three years periods are 1994–1996, 1997–1999, 2000–2002 and 2003–2005.
- 10.
Figures not available from 2007.
- 11.
These figures represent the enforcement percentage of the total number of firms present in the region according to the Information Flows (Flussi Informativi) database. It does not represent the annual enforcement plans set by the Health Pact, which require SPSALs to conduct enough enforcement activities necessary to ensure that at least 5% of the workers in the region are working in adequate conditions.
References
Bibbings, R. (2014). Twenty four arguments for increased action by the Health and Safety Commission and Executive. Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents [Online]. Available from: http://www.rospa.com/drivertraining/morr/info/24arguments.pdf. Accessed 25 Aug 2014.
Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health. (2013). The health and occupation research network [Online]. Available from: http://www.population-health.manchester.ac.uk/epidemiology/COEH/research/thor/. Accessed 25 Aug 2014.
Cherry, N., Meyer, J. D., Adisesh, A., Brooke, R., Owen-Smith, V., Swales, C., et al. (2000). Surveillance of occupational skin disease: EPIDERM and OPRA. The British Journal of Dermatology, 142(6), 1128–1134.
Coordinamento Tecnico Interregionale. (2011). Attività delle regioni e delle province autonome per la prevenzione nei luoghi di lavoro, elaborazione PREO as reported by Conferenza delle regioni e delle provincie autonome [Online]. Available from: http://www.regione.emilia-romagna.it/sicurezza-nei-luoghi-di-lavoro/coordinamento/altre-strutture-e-documenti-di-riferimento/piani-nazionali-e-regionali. Accessed 25 Aug 2014.
Fooks, G., Bergman D., & Rigby, B. (2007). International comparison of (a) techniques used by state bodies to obtain compliance with health and safety law and accountability for administrative and criminal offences and (b) sentences for criminal offences. Health and Safety Executive [Online]. Available from: http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr607.htm. Accessed 25 Aug 2014.
Great Britain. (2013). Reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulation 2013. N. 1471. Norwich: The Stationary Office [Online]. Available from: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1471/contents/made. Accessed 23 Mar 2017.
HSE. (2003). Driving at work, managing work-related road safety [Online]. Available from: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg382.pdf. Accessed 25 Aug 2014.
HSE. (2012a). HSE annual report and accounts 2011/2012 [Online]. Available from: http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/reports/index.htm. Accessed 25 Aug 2014.
HSE. (2012b). Historical picture: Trends in work-related injuries and ill health since the introduction of the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) 1974 [Online]. Available from: http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/history/historical-picture.pdf Accessed 25 Aug 2014.
HSE. (2013a). Data source [Online]. Available from: http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/sources.htm#employment. Accessed 25 Aug 2014.
HSE. (2013b) Enforcement management model [Online]. Available from: http://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/emm.pdf. Accessed 25 Aug 2014.
HSE. (2013c). National local authority enforcement code health and safety at work England, Scotland & Wales [Online]. Available from: http://www.hse.gov.uk/lau/national-la-code.pdf. Accessed 23 Feb 2018.
HSE. (2013d). Reporting accidents and incidents at work: A brief guide to the reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) [Online]. Available from: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg453.pdf. Accessed 23 Mar 2017.
HSE. (2013e). Health and Safety Executive statistics 2009/10 [Online]. Available from: http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overall/hssh0910.pdf?pdf=hssh0910. Accessed 10 Apr 2010.
HSE. (2017). Health and safety at work summary statistics for Great Britain 2017 [Online]. Available from: http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overall/hssh1617.pdf. Accessed 10 Apr 2017.
HSE. (2018). Is health surveillance required in my workplace? [Online]. Available from: http://www.hse.gov.uk/health-surveillance/requirement/index.htm. Accessed 23 Mar 2018.
INAIL. (2003). Bilancio Consuntivo 2002 [Online]. Available from: https://www.inail.it/cs/internet/docs/1_bil-cons-2002-pdf.pdf. Accessed 6 Apr 2018.
INAIL. (2007). Bilancio Consuntivo 2006 [Online]. Available from: https://www.inail.it/cs/internet/docs/bilancio-cons-2006-pdf.pdf. Accessed 6 Apr 2018.
INAIL. (2014). Bilancio Consuntivo 2013 [Online]. Available from: https://www.inail.it/cs/internet/docs/all-bilancio-consuntivo-2013.pdf. Accessed 6 Apr 2018.
INAIL. (2016). Bilancio Consuntivo 2015 [Online]. Available from: https://www.inail.it/cs/internet/docs/ammt-bilancio-consuntivo-2015.pdf. Accessed 6 Apr 2018.
INAIL. (2017). Bilancio Previsione 2017 [Online]. Available from: https://www.inail.it/cs/internet/docs/ammt-bilancio-previsione-2017.pdf. Accessed 6 Apr 2018.
Johnson, J. (2010, November). Beating fatigue. RoSPA Occupational Safety & Health Journal, 40(11), 27–30.
Regione Friuli-Venezia Giulia. (2010). Attività UOPSAL, ASS Friuli Venezia Giulia 2000–2010 [Online]. Avialable from: http://www.regione.fvg.it/rafvg/export/sites/default/RAFVG/salute-sociale/organizzazione-salute-tutela-sociale/FOGLIA29/allegati/AttivitaSPSAL00-10xcomart27xsito.ppt. Accessed 25 Aug 2014.
Repubblica Italiana. (1965). Decreto Del Presidente Della Repubblica n. 1124, 30 giugno 1965. Testo unico delle disposizioni per l’assicurazione obbligatoria contro gli infortuni sul lavoro e le malattie professionali. Gazzetta Ufficiale n.257 del 13 ottobre 1965, Supplemento Ordinario N. 24.
Repubblica Italiana. (2015). Decreto Legislativo 4 marzo 2015, n. 22 Disposizioni per il riordino della normativa in materia di ammortizzatori sociali in caso di disoccupazione involontaria e di ricollocazione dei lavoratori disoccupati, in attuazione della legge 183/2014. Pubblicato nella Gazz. Uff. 6 Marzo 2015, n. 54, S.O. [Online]. Available from: http://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/2015/3/6/15G00036/sg. Accessed 30 Jan 2018.
Tombs, S. (2003). Accounting for safety crimes? HSE, enforcement data and the (shifting) politics of access. Radical Statistics, 81(Spring), 51–61.
Tombs, S., & Whyte, D. (2008). A crisis of enforcement: The decriminalisation of death and injury at work. London: Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, 1746–6938 [Online]. Available from: http://www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/sites/crimeandjustice.org.uk/files/crisisenforcementweb.pdf. Accessed 25 Aug 2014.
Tombs, S., & Whyte, D. (2010). Regulatory surrender: death, injury and the non-enforcement of law. Liverpool: Institute of Employment Rights.
UK Statistics Authority. (2013, September). Assessment of compliance with the code of practice for official statistics. Statistics on health and safety at work (produced by the Health and Safety Executive). Assessment Report 261 [Online]. Available from: https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/archive/assessment/assessment/assessment-reports/assessment-report-261—statistics-on-health-and-safety-at-work.pdf. Accessed 10 Jan 2017.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Canciani, D. (2019). Incidents and Enforcement Trends. In: The Politics and Practice of Occupational Health and Safety Law Enforcement. Critical Criminological Perspectives. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98509-1_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98509-1_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-98508-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-98509-1
eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)