Official statistics published this month show an increase in the number of people killed at work last year. Provisional data released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for the year April 2010 to March 2011 highlight the number of workers killed was 171; an increase on the previous year when 147 died - the lowest on record.
Judith Hackitt, Chair of the HSE said, "The increase in the number of deaths is disappointing, after an all-time low last year. However, we must remember that we still have one of the lowest rates of fatal injury anywhere in Europe. The fact that 171 people failed to come home from work to their loved ones last year reminds us all of what we are here to do. It is a stark reminder of the need to ensure that health and safety remains focused on the real risks which exist in workplaces, not on trivia and pointless paperwork."
She continued, "We all have a role to play - employers, employees and regulators - and leadership is fundamental to maintaining and improving our performance even further. In a world of work which is constantly changing we must all continue to review what we do and how we do it and strive to become even more effective at managing risks which cost lives."
The published figures also show the rate of fatal injuries in various key industrial sectors:
