The latest Health and Safety Executive annual report has shown the number of workers seriously or fatally injured at work for 2012/13 has fallen to an all-time low.
During the period between April 2012 and March 2013, there were 148 workplace fatalities, down from the previous year’s figure of 171, an 11% decrease.
However, it also stated that agriculture, construction and waste re-cycling sector accounted for almost half of the deaths.
As the most high risk sectors, construction accounted for 156.0 major injuries per 100, 000 employees, agriculture 239.4 and waste and recycling 369.8 major injuries.
Additionally, 78,222 other injuries to employees were reported under RIDDOR, a
rate of 311.6 per 100,000 employees.
Chair of HSE, Judith Hackitt said: “This year’s figures demonstrate that Britain continues to be improve its health and safety performance, with important falls in the number of workers fatally injured and the number of employees suffering major injuries.
“But we still see too many deaths and injuries occur in the work place many of which could have been prevented through simple safety measures. Getting this right is the key to ensuring that everyone can make it home safely at the end of their working day,” she added.
Alex Botha, chief executive of the British Safety Council, echoed Hackitt’s comments.
“While the number of people killed and seriously injured in Britain’s workplaces continues to fall year-on-year we echo the comments of HSE’s chair, Judith Hackitt, that many of these deaths and serious injuries could have been prevented by simple safety measures,” he said.
The report also found workplace injuries and ill health (excluding cancer) cost society an estimated £13.8 billion in 2010/11.
