Fatal injuries to British workers at record low

Figures from the the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) published today have revealed that fatalities at work are at a new low.

While the annual fatal injury statistics showed the lowest fatal injuries on record, 212 people died or were fatally injured at work in 2005/2006, a reduction from 223 in 2004/2005.

The rate is also the lowest on record, at a rate of 0.71 fatalities per 100,000 workers.

Bill Callaghan, Chair of HSC said: "The figures are very encouraging but more needs to be done. There are still too many people killed at work every year, and quite often simple, inexpensive measures could have prevented the tragic loss of life.

"The figures show that the Commission's strategy is working. This is based on enforcement, information and advice, regulation and persuasion and working in partnership with industry and trade unions. The construction industry is an example where all parties have worked closely together over a number of years and achieved impressive results."

The figures published today also contain a comparison across Europe, which shows Great Britain as having the lowest fatal injury rate in Europe, a rate of 1.1 worker per 100,000.

The most common cause of fatal injury are falls from height, with 46 workers being killed following a fall.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recently run a campaign warning of the dangers of working at height in a bid to further raise awareness of the dangers posed by working at height and try and reduce this figure still further.

Two industries, construction and agriculture account for just under half of all fatal injuries, however, both industries saw sizeable reductions in the number and rate of fatalities.

In construction there was a 14% drop in the number of fatal injuries resulting in the lowest rate on record and in agriculture there was a reduction of 21% to the lowest rate since 1999/2000.

(SP)