Fatal injury statistics
Note: As of November 2011, the employment data source used by HSE’s Statistics Branch changed to the Annual Population Survey (APS). The injury rates presented here were published in June 2011 and hence differ from those published in November on the new basis. Fatal injury statistics that take account of the revised employment data source will be published in June 2012.
Summary for 2010/11
- The provisional figure for the number of workers fatally injured in 2010/11 is 171, and corresponds to a rate of fatal injury of 0.6 per 100 000 workers.
- Given that these statistics are based on a count of events that are rare, they are highly subject to chance variation from one year to the next. Therefore, when seeking to use the data to make inferences about changes in the inherent dangerousness of work conditions, it is necessary to look at trends over a number of years. The incorporation of the 2010/11 data into the time series reinforces an underlying downward trend.
- The figure of 171 worker deaths in 2010/11 is 17% lower than the average for the past five years (205). In terms of the rate of fatal injuries, the latest figure of 0.6 per 100 000 workers is 14% lower than the five-year average rate of 0.7.
- The finalised figure for the number of workers fatally injured in 2009/10 is 147, and corresponds to a rate of 0.5 deaths per 100 000 workers.
- Eurostat have made a comparison of the fatal injury rates across EU countries. This reveals that the fatal injury rate for Great Britain is consistently one of the lowest in Europe, These data can be found on the Eurostat website . From the 'Data Navigation Tree' select 'Population and social conditions'; then 'Health'; 'Health and safety at work'; 'Accidents at work’.)
- There were 68 members of the public fatally injured in accidents connected to work in 2010/11 (excluding railways-related incidents).
Worker fatalities by main industry *
- In agriculture there were 34 fatal injuries in 2010/11 with a corresponding rate of 8.0 deaths per 100 000 workers. This compares to a rate of 9.6 when an average of the previous five years is examined.
- In construction there were 50 fatal injuries, with a rate of 2.4 deaths per 100 000 workers. This compares to an average rate of 2.8 for the previous five years.
- In manufacturing there were 27 fatal injuries, with a rate of 1.1 deaths per 100 000 workers (the same rate as the average for the previous five years).
- In the services sector there were 47 fatal injuries, with a rate of 0.2 deaths per 100 000 workers. (the same rate as the average for the previous five years).
- In the waste and recycling industry (categorised using SIC divisions 38 and 39) there were nine fatal injuries, with a rate of 8.7 deaths per 100 000 workers. This compares to an average rate of 7.0 for the previous five years.
* Statistics presented by industry use the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system, which has recently changed from 'SIC 2003' to 'SIC 2007'. These statistics are presented on the new basis, with data for previous years converted to the new classification. Changes of this nature occur periodically, to reflect how the industrial composition of the economy changes over time. More detail and the implications for these statistics can be found in the full-year details page.
