The British Health and Safety Commission (HSC) on August 16 published its annual fatal occupational injury statistics. In the 2005/2006 data period, 212 people were fatally injured on the job, a reduction from 223 in 2004/2005 and the lowest fatal injury number on record. The rate is also the lowest on record, at a rate of 0.71 fatalities per 100,000 workers
The full report can be viewed at: www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overall/fatl0506.pdf
"The figures are very encouraging but more needs to be done," said HSC chair Bill Callaghan. "There are still too many people killed at work every year, and quite often, simple, inexpensive measures could have prevented the tragic loss of life. The figures show that the commission's strategy is working. This is based on enforcement, information and advice, regulation and persuasion and working in partnership with industry and trade unions. The construction industry is an example where all parties have worked closely together over a number of years and achieved impressive results. "
The figures also contain a comparison across
Falls from height remain the most common cause of fatal injury, with 46 workers being killed following a fall compared to 53 workers killed in 2004/2005. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recently run a campaign warning of the dangers of working at height in a bid to further raise awareness of the dangers posed by working at height and try and reduce this figure still further.
Two industries, construction and agriculture, account for just under half of all fatal injuries, however, both industries saw sizeable reductions in the number and rate of fatalities. In construction, there was a 14 percent drop in the number of fatal injuries resulting in the lowest rate on record; and in agriculture, there was a reduction of 21 percent to the lowest rate since 1999/2000.
In manufacturing, the number of fatal injuries to workers increased in 2005/06, from 43 to 45. The rate also increased, from 1.3 to 1.4 per 100,000. The injury rate has fluctuated in recent years, with no overall trend.
