The authority to which the accident is reported depends on the sector the employer operates in. The HSE receives most of the reports in its local offices. Offshore employers report to the Department of Energy. Inspectors choose which accidents to investigate and so while the data is more complete it is not representative. For this reason the data is used more towards prevention by information and training than as a source for statistics.
Additional data is collected and the final codings are made by one person.
The results are annual statistics. The finalized 1986-87 was published in the Employment Department Gazette in February 1989. The same pattern is likely to be repeated in future years. The data is also used to answer directly Parliamentary questions. These urgent answers are usually given in a shortened form.