Increase in deaths at work
August 1st 2004

Bill Callaghan, Chair of the Health and Safety Commission (HSC), called for action from all sections of industry following the publication of the latest workplace statistics which show a 4% increase in the number of deaths at work last year. New HSE statistics report that 235 people were killed at work in 2003/04, eight more than in the previous year. 9% of all fatal injuries to workers occurred in one single incident when 21 people drowned while harvesting cockles in Morecambe Bay in February. Bill Callaghan commented I am disappointed that there has been no improvement in the number of reported fatalities this year behind these aggregate figures represent 235 individual tragedies. These can be avoided, but often simple measures, ones that can prevent accidents are not being put in place. Clearly the results of this years report show falls from height remain a big safety problem, but incidents such as Morecambe Bay raise new issues. HSE has been working with industry to provide guidance in this area of work as the investigation continues. All workers whatever their nationality or employment status are subject to the protection and responsibilities of health and safety law. Falls from height continue to account for a large proportion of fatal injuries to all workers amounting to 29% (67) of all incidents in 2003/04. This represents the first upturn in three years and the results confirm that fatal falls can and do occur across all sectors of industry with construction and services sectors presenting particular problems. There were 70 construction fatalities this reporting year no change from last year. However, employment has increased in construction and the fatal injury rate fell to 3.55 deaths per hundred thousand workers, the lowest level on record. Being struck by a moving vehicle is also one of the common causes of fatality for workers, increasing from 39 to 44. Segregation of vehicles and pedestrians and reversing vehicles remain the most frequent hazards. Copies of Statistics of Fatal Injuries 2003/04 are free and can be ordered from the Safety and Enforcement Statistics Unit, Health and Safety Executive, Room 403, Daniel House, Bootle, Merseyside L20 7HE, Tel: 0151 951 3864/4600, The book is also available online at www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overall/fatl0304.pdf.

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