Major workplace disasters - the importance of high standards of health and safety at work
With figures indicating that over 2.3 million people die every year due to work-related accidents or diseases, it is clear that more information and education is required on the subject.
The impact of workplace accidents also has a detrimental effect on the global economy. It is estimated that there are 313 million non-fatal workplace accidents each year, which results in a loss of 4% of the world’s annual GDP.
Safety in the workplace is the responsibility of both the employer and the employee. The employer must ensure that all risks and hazards are identified and assessed. Control measures must be introduced as a solution to risks and hazards that cannot be alleviated. It is the employee’s responsibility to comply and cooperate with relevant safety laws and with the employer.
In this infographic, North Sea Workwear has sought to convey the dangers of failing to implement correct safety standards and precautions at work. It has illustrated the implications for employees, employers, and also the dangers for those in surrounding areas. For example, 109 lives were lost in the Air France Concorde crash in 2000. Investigations indicated that the correct safety inspections were not carried out before take-off.
Another recent high-profile case of insufficient safety practices was the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. With an estimated 4.9 million gallons of oil spilled into the ocean and 11 people killed at the site, this was both an environmental and human health disaster. More than 33% of the gulf’s waters were closed to fishing at the peak of the spill. From the company’s standpoint, BP lost over 25% of its market share, and paid fines in excess of $25bn.
This infographic is designed to help raise awareness of the importance of high standards of health and safety at work.