Member Article

Worker deaths fall across the North West

Workplace related deaths in the North West have fallen in the last year, according to statistics released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The number of deaths in the region fell from 25 in 2011/12 to 15 in 2012/13, while across the whole of Britain the number of fatal injuries amongst workers fell from 172 to 148 year on year.

HSE said the overall rate of fatal injury fell to 0.5 per 100,000 workers, below the five-year average of 0.6, while Britain has now had one of the lowest rates in Europe’s top industrial nations for the last eight years.

Judith Hackitt, HSE chair, commented: “These figures are being published in the same week as the 25th anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster, and are a reminder to us all of why health and safety is so important.

“Although the number of people killed at work has dropped significantly, last year 148 people failed to return home to their loved ones.

“The fact that Britain continues to have one of the lowest levels of workplace fatalities in Europe will be of little consolation to those who lose family members, friends and work colleagues.”

New figures also show that 39 construction workers died last year, down from 48 in 2011/12, while in agriculture 29 fatal injuries were recorded in comparison with 35 the previous year.

Ms Hackitt added: “HSE is striving to make health and safety simpler and clearer for people to understand so that more people do what is required to manage the real risks that cause death and serious injury.

“We all have a part to play to ensure people come home safe at the end of the working day and good leadership, employee engagement and effective risk- management are key to achieving this.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .