Reduction in Fatalities at Work

Provisional data released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reveals that 133 workers were fatally injured between April 2013 and March 2014, compared with 150 in the previous year.

The overall rate of fatal injury has dropped to 0.44 per 100,000 workers, compared to 0.51 in 2012/13.

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

• There were 27 fatal injuries to workers in agriculture, lower than the average of 33 for the previous five years. The rate of fatal injury in 2013/14 is 8.77, compared to the five-year average rate of 9.89.
• There were 42 fatal injuries to workers in construction, lower than the average figure of 46. The latest rate of fatal injury is 1.98 per 100,000 workers, compared to a five-year average of 2.07.
• There were 4 fatal injuries to workers in waste and recycling, lower than the average count of 7 over the last five years. The latest rate of 3.33 deaths per 100,000 compares to an average rate of 5.48

HSE has also released the latest number of deaths from mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. These show that 2,535 people died in 2012, up from 2,291 in 2011.

The average rate of fatal injury over the last five years has been 0.56 per 100, 000 workers. In each of the last five years, the number of fatal injuries has been:

• 2012/13 – 150 workers died (previous provisional figure was 148)
• 2011/12 – 171 workers died
• 2010/11 – 175 workers died
• 2009/10 – 147 workers died
• 2008/09 – 179 workers died

Britain continues to have the lowest rate of fatal injuries to workers among the five leading industrial nations in Europe – Germany, France, Spain and Italy for the eighth year.