by Brianna Crandall — July 18, 2011—The U.K.’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) released provisional data for the year April 2010 to March 2011 that shows the number of workers killed in Great Britain last year has increased, although Britain continues to have the lowest rate of fatal injuries to workers among the leading industrial nations in Europe.
The statistics show that the number of workers killed was 171, up from the previous year when 147 died–the lowest number on record. The rate of fatal injuries is now 0.6 per 100,000 workers, up from 0.5 per 100,000 workers the previous year.
Judith Hackitt, the HSE Chair, said, “The increase in the number of deaths in the last year 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.” Hackitt added, “It is a stark reminder of the need to ensure that health and safety remains focused on the real risks which exist in workplaces” and that employers, employees and regulators all have a role to play in workplace safety.
Based on available data (2007), 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 a six-year period.
The figures show the rate of fatal injuries in several of the key industrial sectors, including construction and waste and recycling:
- 50 fatal injuries to construction workers were recorded–a rate of 2.4 deaths per 100,000 workers, compared to an average of 61 deaths in the past five years and an increase from the 41 deaths (and rate of 1.9) recorded in 2009/10.
- Nine fatal injuries to waste and recycling workers were recorded – a rate of 8.7 deaths per 100,000 workers, compared to an average of 8 deaths in the past five years and an increase from the 3 deaths (and rate of 2.8) recorded in 2009/10.
