Statistics

Around 200,000 UK workers are employed in the industry.
It is dominated by small and medium-sized businesses.
Around half the workforce are in businesses employing fewer than 10 people.
The MVR fatal injury rate is approaching that present in the construction industry
'All injuries' accident rates for the MVR industry are higher than the average for the whole of manufacturing.

In MVR, between 2007/08 and 2011/12 there were:

over 7,000 MVR injuries reported to the HSE and Local Authorities;
33 fatal injuries (including employees, self employed persons and members of the public); and
around 1,600 other major/serious injuries to employees and the self-employed persons

Fatal accident numbers (above) in MVR do not currently include those in the 'roadside recovery and repair' part of the MVR industry, as these are not reportable under the RIDDOR Regulations, unless the casualty vehicle is actually being loaded onto the recovery truck at the time of the accident. Therefore, fatal accidents to workers in MVR will be higher.

Additionally, MVR type activities are carried out in other industries. Where accidents and ill health are notified under RIDDOR, these instances will be recorded against that industry, not against MVR. For example, a farmer might suffer fatal injuries on a farm when changing a wheel or tyre which then explodes/disintegrates when he tries to reinflate the tyre. This incident would be recorded against the agricultural industry. Therefore, the number of incidents/injuries and ill health would be higher in 'broader' MVR activities in industry as a whole.

The actual figures for serious and less serious injuries will be much higher than those quoted due to considerable under reporting.