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HSE figures show increase in fatal work accidents (11 July 2016)

Date: 11/07/2016
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, HSE figures show increase in fatal work accidents

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published provisional annual data for work-related fatal accidents in workplaces across the UK.

HSE said that the long-term trend had seen the rate of fatalities more than halve over the last 20 years.

However, provisional figures indicate that 144 people were killed while at work in 2015-2016 – up from 142 in 2014-2015.

The Health and Safety Executive has called on all sectors to learn lessons to ensure workers return home safe from work.

The new figures show the rate of fatal injuries in key industrial sectors, with 43 workers in construction killed – the same as the average for the previous five years.

In agriculture, there were 27 deaths, compared with the five-year average of 32 – and in manufacturing, there were 27 deaths compared with a five-year average of 22. However, this figure includes three incidents that resulted in a total of eight deaths.

The figures show there were also six fatal injuries to workers in waste and recycling, compared with the five-year average of seven – but figures were subject to considerable yearly fluctuation, says HSE.

There were also 103 members of the public fatally injured in accidents connected to work in 2015-2016, of which 36 (35%) relate to incidents occurring on railways.

HSE Chair Martin Temple said:

“One death at work or life needlessly shortened is one too many – and behind every statistic lies a real story of loss and heartbreak and families left to grieve.

“Britain has one of the best health and safety systems in the world, but we should always be looking to improve and to prevent incidents that cost lives.

“This year, HSE travelled the country asking industry representatives, employers, unions, workers and others what they could do to help GB work well.

“The response was hugely encouraging – and I would like to ask people to deliver on the commitments made, that will help keep Britain’s workers alive.”

Comparisons of fatal injuries by country or region are based on where the accident occurred – after taking industrial composition into account, those regions and countries with seemingly higher rates are not statistically different from the rest of GB, HSE said.

In 2015-2016, the highest fatal injury rates across all countries and regions were Wales (0.93 per 100,000 workers), Scotland (0.60) and Yorkshire and the Humber (0.58).

HSE said that the statistics again confirm the UK to be one of the safest places to work in Europe, having one of the lowest rates of fatal injuries to workers in leading industrial nations.

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – No win no fee Fatal Injury Claims

Duncan Lewis can advise bereaved families whose loved one has lost their life as a result of negligence on how to make a no win no fee claim for compensation, including claims relating to:

• Accidents at work
• Claims Against MoD
• Construction accidents
• Industrial accidents
• Industrial diseases
• Transport/road accidents.

Fatal injury claims usually have to be made within three years – Duncan Lewis can also advise on claims involving holiday accidents, criminal injuries and sports injuries, as well as medical negligence.

For supportive legal advice on no win no fee Fatal Injury Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 0333 772 0409

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