Work-related deaths 'fall' in UK
Commercial insurance
29th October 2008
The number of people killed or injured a work has fallen over the last year, new figures have shown.
According to data from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), reported major injuries have dropped by nine per cent since the beginning of the decade.
Last year, workplace deaths fell by around five per cent to 229, meaning the UK is one of the lowest rates of work-related deaths in the European Union.
Judith Hackitt, chair of the HSE, said the figures were no excuse for employers to take their eye of the ball and neglect obligations such as acquiring business insurance.
"Good business management will be vital and good health and safety management is an integral part of that," she commented.
Over 2007-08, 2.1 million people suffered a work-related illness while more than 136,000 workers suffered injuries such as the loss of limbs or fractures.
Meanwhile, around 34 million working days were lost in the UK due to injury and ill health.
