17 August 2006 - Reduction in number of fatally injured workers
Lord Hunt, Minister for Health and Safety, today welcomed the latest figures showing a fall in the number of fatal workplace injuries, but stressed there was no room for complacency.
The Statistics of Fatal Injuries 2005/2006, published today by the Health & Safety Commission (HSC), showed the number of fatally injured workers decreased by 5 per cent to 212, from 223 in 2004/05.
The rate of fatal injury also fell by 5 per cent to 0.71 fatalities per 100,000 workers, from 0.75 fatalities. This is the lowest rate on record.
Lord Hunt said:
“I am pleased to see both the reduction in the number of people killed at work and also the fall in the rate of fatal injuries down to the lowest rate on record.
“I recognise this is down to the efforts of many people, not just the regulators, the Health and Safety Commission/Executive and the local authorities, but also employers and employees and their respective organisations. I want to commend their efforts in achieving this improvement.
“But despite this good news, we cannot be complacent. 212 deaths are 212 deaths too many, and we must continue to focus our efforts on making further improvements and reducing this number even further.”
The full document can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overpic.htm
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