In Britain, fewer people are being killed or injured by their work in manufacturing, according to figures by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Between April 2009 and March 2010, the number of reported major injuries, such as amputations or broken bones, fell by 11% (from 4331 to 3863), while the number of minor injuries, those that keep workers away from work for three or more days, fell by 16%.
The number of deaths in manufacturing was 22 in 2009-2010. It was an average of 33 in the past five years.
Geoff Cox, head of manufacturing for HSE, said: “We are encouraged that there are fewer deaths and injuries in manufacturing this year, but we cannot afford to become complacent. The actual rate of death and injury, though that has fallen too, is still significantly higher than that taken from across all workplaces.”
Compared to the all industry average rate of 102 per 100,000 seriously injured or killed employees, the manufacturing rate is 50% higher, at 158 per 100,000 employees.
Cox added: “As Britain moves out of recession and work starts up again, we must continue to focus on real health and safety. History shows that accident rates rise in such periods, as new workers are taken on and industry works closer to its capacity. We don’t want these improvements to be lost in the economic recovery.”
