Increase in workplace fatalities

New official statistics have been published showing an increase in the number of workers killed in Britain last year.

The Health and Safety Executive has released provisional data for the year April 2010 to March 2011, which shows the number of workers killed was 171, an increase on the previous year when 147 died - the lowest number on record.

The rate of fatal injury is now 0.6 per 100,000 workers, up from 0.5 per 100,000 workers the previous year. 

Based on available data (2007), Britain continues to have the lowest rate of fatal injuries to workers among the five leading industrial nations in Europe - Germany, France, Spain and Italy - for a six year period.

The figures also show the rate of fatal injuries in several of the key industrial sectors:

• Construction - 50 fatal injuries to construction workers were recorded.
• Agriculture - 34 fatal injuries to agricultural workers were recorded.
• Waste and recycling - nine fatal injuries to waste and recycling workers were recorded.