NEW figures indicate the number of workers killed in Britain last year has fallen to the lowest annual rate on record.
Provisional data released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reveals 133 workers were killed between April 2013 and March 2014, compared with 150 in the previous year.
There were 42 fatal injuries to workers in construction, lower than the average figure of 46.
In waste and recycling, four workers were killed, lower than the average count of seven over the last five years.
20 fatal injuries in Scotland were recorded – a rate of 0.78 deaths per 100,000 workers, compared to an average of 21 deaths in the past five years and a decrease from the 23 deaths recorded in 2012/13.
Judith Hackitt, the HSE Chair, said, “The release of the annual statistics always leads to mixed emotions. Sadness for the loss of 133 lives, and sympathy for their families, friends and workmates, but also a sense of encouragement that we continue to make progress in reducing the toll of suffering.
“Whilst these are only provisional figures, they confirm Britain’s performance in health and safety as world class. For the last eight years we have consistently recorded one of the lowest rates of fatal injuries to workers among the leading industrial nations in Europe.”
Minister of State for Health and Safety, Mike Penning, said, “Any death at work is a death too many. But these statistics show that workplaces are getting safer.
“The Health and Safety Executive do an excellent job in making sure each and every one of us can go out to do an honest day’s work in the knowledge that our safety is being taken seriously.”
