According to recent statistics released by HSE, there were 137 workers killed at work in the UK in 2016/17.
Despite workplace fatalities being on a constant decline in numbers over the past 30 years, due to overall health and safety regulations being improved across all sectors, the most recent statistics highlight the fact that there are still improvements to be made. With 137 workers being killed in the UK in one year, this means there is approximately one workplace fatality every 2.5 days.
The statistics released by the HSE found that:
- 72% of the workplace fatalities in 2016/17 were people aged between 16 and 59
- 23% of the fatalities were due to people being struck by a moving vehicle
- 18% of the fatalities were due to people falling from a height
- 15% of the fatalities were due to people being struck by a moving object
Other causes of workplace fatalities in the UK during 2016/17 include contact with moving machinery, contact with electricity, being trapped by something collapsing or overturning, amongst a number of other reasons.
Despite overall health and safety at work constantly improving over time, there are still a number of precautions for employers to take in order to protect their workforce and prevent injuries, accidents and fatalities.
Gary Ellis from CE Safety believes there are a variety of steps to follow in order to avoid harm to employees on a day-to-day basis:
“Employers and employees need to prioritise health and safety regulations on a daily basis, as a general part of their job responsibilities. Certain industries are more prone to accidents, injuries and fatalities, and high-risk sectors must understand that health and safety at work is more than just being legally compliant.