Figures show fatalities are falling

The number of fatal accidents at work in Great Britain has fallen to an all-time low during 2005/6, with a reduction from 223 to 212 from last years figures, a fall of 5%. The major contributing sectors include agriculture and most significantly construction, where the fatal injury rate has fallen by 14%, from 69 to 59. However, despite this overall fall some sectors have been less impressive:

• manufacturing recorded an increase in fatal injuries to workers, from 43 to 45;
• fatalities in the large services sector also increased from 67 to 69; and
• the extractive and utility supply industries fatalities increased from 2 to 6.

These statistics, which were released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), also show the figures for members of the public fatally injured through work activities is up from 117 to 130. Despite their improvements, agriculture and construction sectors remain the greatest killers of people at work, and falls from height continues to be the most common kind of accident, accounting for 22% of fatal injuries. Although this has decreased, from 53 last year to 46 this year.

The Chair of the Health and Safety Commission Bill Callaghan, said "The figures are very encouraging but more needs to be done. 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."