A speech given on behalf of RoSPA has highlighted how workplace safety precautions like roof rails and edge protection have helped to substantially decrease the number of injuries suffered by people on the job.
Dr Clifford Mann, president of the College of Emergency Medicine, delivered the RoSPA-hosted Allan St John Holt Memorial Lecture on October 20th.
Ahead of the event itself, RoSPA outlined some of the key elements of the speech – including the progress made on reducing workplace injuries.
“Some areas, such as road, occupational and rail safety, have seen significant reductions in injuries,” the organisation said.
“While there remains a place for some physical interventions to prevent accidents … the big challenges are education and behaviour change.”
Employers have the opportunity to lead by example – not only through workplace measures like roof rails and edge protection, but by encouraging employees to be vigilant outside of work too.
And the potential pay-off is huge, not only in terms of reducing injury rates in professional and domestic settings alike, but in easing the burden on the NHS too.
Dr Mann said: “Accident prevention is a largely untapped resource for relieving this pressure. There is a very real opportunity to reduce the toll of easily preventable suffering.”