The waste and recycling sector had the highest rate of fatalities per 100,000 workers, according to the 2017/18 health and safety figures released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The final figures for the year 2017/18 show that there were 12 fatal injuries to workers in the waste and recycling sector, 2 less than the previous year.
Stats also show that the rate of fatalities per 100,000 workers is 10.26 (down from 12.69 for 2016/17), the highest among industries. This was followed by the agriculture industry at 8.44, which has increased from last year.
Despite this being a relatively small sector in terms of employment, the annual average fatal injury rate over the last five years is around 16 times as high as the all industry rate, according the HSE’s provisional figures published in July.
“Great Britain’s health and safety record is something we should all be proud of, but there is still much to be done to ensure that every worker goes home at the end of their working day safe and healthy.”
Overall fatalities for workers throughout all UK industries for the year was 144 – a rate of 0.45 per 100,000 workers.
Although this represents an increase of nine fatalities from 2016/17, there has been a long-term reduction in the number of fatalities since 1981 and the number has remained broadly level in the last 5-6 years.
The main causes for overall industry fatalities were:
- Falls from a height
- Struck by moving vehicle
- Struck by moving object
- Trapped by something collapsing/ overturning
- Contact with moving machinery.
In addition, 100 Members of the public were killed due to work related activities in 2017/18.
Martin Temple, HSE Chair, said of the findings: “These figures should serve as a reminder to us of the importance to manage risk and undertake good health and safety practice in the work place.
“Great Britain’s health and safety record is something we should all be proud of, but there is still much to be done to ensure that every worker goes home at the end of their working day safe and healthy.
“Collectively we must take responsibility to prevent these incidents that still affect too many lives every year, and continue to all play our part in Helping Great Britain Work Well.”