Annual workplace fatality statistics published

HSE publishes provisional figures ahead of more detailed assessment in November

THE Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published provisional annual data for work-related fatal accidents in Great Britain’s workplaces.

Although the long-term trend has seen the rate of fatalities more than halve over the last 20 years, the provisional figures indicate that 144 people were killed while at work in 2015/2016 – up from 142 in 2014/5.

The HSE has called on all sectors to learn lessons to ensure workers return home safe from work. Martin Temple (pictured), chair of the HSE, said: ‘One death at work or life needlessly shortened, is one too many and behind every statistic lies a real story of loss and heartbreak, and families left to grieve.

‘Britain has one of the best health and safety systems in the world, but we should always be looking to improve and to prevent incidents that cost lives.

‘This year the HSE travelled the country asking industry representatives, employers, unions, workers and others what they could do to help GB work well. The response was hugely encouraging and I would like to ask people to deliver on the commitments made, that will help keep Britain’s workers alive.’

The new figures show the rate of fatal injuries in key industrial sectors:

• Forty three workers died in construction, the same as the average for the previous five years.
• In agriculture there were 27 deaths (compared with the five-year average of 32).
• In manufacturing there were 27 deaths (compared with the five-year average of 22), but this figure includes three incidents that resulted in a total of eight deaths.
• There were six fatal injuries to workers in waste and recycling, compared with the five-year average of seven, but this is subject to considerable yearly fluctuation.

According to the HSE, the latest statistics again confirm the UK to be one of the safest places to work in Europe, having one of the lowest rates of fatal injuries to workers in the leading industrial nations.

A more detailed assessment of the data will be provided as part of the annual Health and Safety Statistics release in early November. In the meantime, further information can be found at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/fatals.htm