New figures released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have shown that deaths at work have dropped to a record low during 2009-2010. The figures revealed that between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010 there were 151 fatalities at work compared to 178 in the previous year and an average of 220 per year in the previous five years.
Although HSE chair Judith Hackitt recognises that this reduction points to good practice, leadership and employee engagement, she also notes that the recession has caused lower levels of activity in some high-risk sectors and a decrease in new inexperienced recruits which is likely to have distorted the figures.
However, despite the overall improvement, agriculture continues to be the most dangerous industry in Britain, with workplace deaths rising from 25 in 2008-2009, to 38 in 2009-2010.
