UK Workplace Deaths Continue to Decline
Great Britain has had one of the lowest fatality rates in leading industrial nations in Europe for the past eight years.
Preliminary data released by the Health and Safety Executive shows 148 workers died on the job in the year ended March 2013, compared with 172 in the previous year. The fatality rate dropped to 0.5 per 100,000 workers, below the five-year average of 0.6.
Great Britain has had one of the lowest fatality rates in leading industrial nations in Europe for the past eight years.
"These figures are being published in the same week as the 25th anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster, and are a reminder to us all of why health and safety is so important," said HSE Chair Judith Hackitt. "Although the number of people killed at work has dropped significantly, last year 148 people failed to return home to their loved ones. The fact that Britain continues to have one of the lowest levels of workplace fatalities in Europe will be of little consolation to those who lose family members, friends, and work colleagues. HSE is striving to make health and safety simpler and clearer for people to understand so that more people do what is required to manage the real risks that cause death and serious injury. We all have a part to play to ensure people come home safe at the end of the working day and good leadership, employee engagement and effective risk-management are key to achieving this."
The numbers showed:
- 39 construction fatalities occured, a rate of 1.9 deaths per 100,000 workers, versus 48 deaths recorded in 2011/12.
- 29 fatal agricultural injuries were recorded, 8.8 deaths per 100,000 workers and down from 35 deaths recorded in 2011/12.
- Ten fatal waste and recycling fatalities were recorded, 8.2 deaths per 100,000 workers, doubling the five deaths recorded in 2011/12.
Across all of Great Britain, 118 fatal workplace injuries occurred during the year.