Fewer workers killed in services sector
Policy Release
- Date:
- 30 June 2010
New figures for the number of workers who were fatally injured in the services sector have today been released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
They show that between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010:
- 42 services workers were killed at work, compared to an average of 72 in the past five years, and a fall of 32 per cent on 2008/09 when 62 workers died
- The rate of fatal injuries in the sector was 0.2 per 100,000 workers
- Of the 42 services workers killed, 35 were employees and 7 were self employed people.
HSE's Head of Services sector, Nick Ratty, said:
"While it's positive to see a continued decrease in the number of fatalities in the services sector, 42 workers failed to make it home from work last year."
"Employers, workers and HSE owe it to those who have lost their lives to continue to take an uncompromising approach to workplace safety."
"As the economy recovers from recession, it's imperative that the industry makes safety a top priority, as we know from evidence of previous recoveries that it generally sees an increase in the rate and number of workers losing their lives."
Rosalind Roberts, HSE's lead for public services, added:
"It's crucial that we all make sure this downward trend in worker fatalities continues. And that public sector employers have effective systems in place to minimise risks arising from their work activities to both workers and members of the public."
Notes to editors
- The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to prevent death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice, promoting training, new or revised regulations and codes of practice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk
- Across all sectors and regions there were 151 workplace deaths in 2009/10, and 178 in 2009/09. Further information on workplace statistics can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/statistics
- The average rate of fatal injury in services over the last five years has been 0.3 deaths per 100,000 workers.
- In each of the last five years, the number of fatal injuries in services has been:
- 2008/09 - 62 workers died
- 2007/08 - 73 workers died
- 2006/07 - 86 workers died
- 2005/06 - 73 workers died
- 2004/05 - 67workers died
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