The number of people fatally injured in the workplace in the UK has remained relatively unchanged this year as last, according to provisional figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) released last month.
According to the report, some of the most dangerous jobs are in agriculture, the recycling and waste industry and construction. With 33 fatal injuries recorded, the fatality rate of agricultural workers is 9.7 deaths per 100,000, which is an increase on 2010/2011 with 30 deaths recorded.
The rate of fatal injuries to recycling and waste workers is down from 2010/2011 and the fatality rate of construction workers has stayed the same at 2.3 deaths per 100,000 workers. However, 49 fatal incidents have been recorded this year, which is one less than in 2010/2011.
Judith Hackitt, HSE Chair, commented: “Britain continues to have one of the lowest levels of workplace fatal injuries in Europe, part of a long term downward trend. But we must not forget that these are lives cut short, not statistics – every single one of these deaths will have caused terrible grief and anguish for family and friends as well as workmates and colleagues.
“This is the real tragedy of health and safety failures – lives cut short and loved ones lost. We want employers to focus on the real risks that continue to cause death and serious injury. Protecting people from death and serious injury at work should be at the heart of what we all do.”
And Richard Evens, Commercial Training Director at St John Ambulance said: “If UK employers are to reduce the number of tragic workplace incidents, it is essential that they have good health and safety processes in place, including providing basic first-aid training to staff.”
While Steve Murphy, General Secretary of the construction union UCATT said: “Deaths remain far too high, especially given the declining number of people working in the industry.”