17.08.2006

Fatal injuries statistics show improvement

The total number of fatal injuries in the workplace in the UK in 2005/2006 has decreased by five percent to 212 from 223 in 2004/05 according to the latest Health & Safety Commission statistics published today.

Falling from height still continues to be the most common accident accounting for 22 percent of fatalities in 2005/06. This mainly involves falls from roofs, ladders, scaffolds and raised platforms.

The actual number of deaths from falls, decreased from 53 to 46 -the lowest on record. Falls from over 2 metres have reduced to 26, down substantially from an average of 48 per year over the past five years. Being struck by a moving or falling object are the next most common kinds of fatal injury.

If there is any good news in statistics such as these is the fact that there was a fall of 14 percent in the number of fatalities in construction (59 compared to 69 in the previous year) - the lowest level on record. Despite this, however, the number of deaths to self-employed in the construction industry rose from 14 to 17, an increase of more than 20 percent.

Figures taken over the last 10 years show that there have been 383 fatal injuries falling from height - more than the total of all other construction fatalities. Fortunately the trend over the last two years is significantly reducing.

And how do we compare with the rest of Europe? The latest comparable data in 2003 reveals the rate of fatal injury to workers in Great Britain was the lowest of European member states.