The HSE has released figures today (5 July), revealing how many work-related deaths occurred in the UK last year.
The provisional data for the period April 2011 to March 2012 show that 173 workers were fatally injured – two fewer than the previous year’s confirmed total of 175. The rate of fatal injury remains the same, at 0.6 per 100,000 workers.
The construction industry recorded the most deaths, with 49 – this is down from 50 last year, and below the five-year average of 59. It represents a fatal-injury rate of 2.3 per 100,000 – the same as last year.
In the agriculture sector, 33 people lost their lives – three more than in 2010/11, and just below the five-year average of 35. The fatal-injury rate also went up, from 8.7 per 100,000 in 2010/11 to 9.7 per 100,000 last year.
Emphasising that the UK continues to have one of the lowest levels of workplace fatal injury in Europe, HSE chair Judith Hackitt acknowledged that “every single one of these deaths will have caused terrible grief and anguish for family and friends, as well as workmates and colleagues”.
She called on employers to continue to focus on “real risks”, saying the regulator is “working very hard to make it easier for people to understand what they need to do and to focus on the real priorities”.
IOSH described the lack of real improvement in the figures as “disappointing”. Added the Institution’s executive director of policy, Dr Luise Vassie: “Alarmingly, these figures aren’t representative of the real picture, as they don’t include the thousands of people who have died from work-related illnesses and driving for work.
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I believe that the lack of severity in penalties for serious non fatlities also contributes to the perception of Snr Managers that avoidance of a fatality is somehow tolerable?
Given that the CMA / CMCHA impose significant risk upon fatalities, why is the “near miss scenario” not equated similariy?
Pure luck should have no baring upon abject failure to observe regulatory compliance prior to a serious incident.
No one goes to work to be lucky, they should be safe, luck runs out?
It is encouraging to see that the number of workplace deaths in the UK has not risen this year, but we are disappointed that the figure has not reduced to 2009/10 levels – a record low – or further. Cutting these figures over the past few years, has been a focus for UK Health and Safety, which is why after an increase last year it is disappointing to see that they remain at a similar level. 173 deaths is still too many and we hope to see this number come down further over the year ahead.
Once again we have statistics confirming that the fatality rate has not improved on last year’s 16% increase – worrying when we are in a recession, where normally fatalities reduce in line with production.
I support the comments of Brendan Barber, rather than the government keep moaning about the regulatory burden on employers, they should be ensuring compliance with h&s laws.