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Workplace accidents claim nine lives in North East

Britain’s workplace safety regulator has warned businesses in the North East of the continued need to put safety first as new figures reveal the number of employees killed at work.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today published provisional figures showing that there were nine fatal injuries reported in the North East in 2008/09, compared with seven in the previous year.

The number of people killed at work in Britain has fallen to a record low with 180 workers were killed in 2008/09 - down 17% on the previous lowest total of 217, which was recorded in 2005/6.

Pam Waldron, HSE’s Head of Operations in the North East, said: “We know from evidence of past downturns that when the period of economic recovery comes it generally sees an increase in the rate and number of workers losing their lives.

“What is important is that people manage the real risks and take a sensible approach to health and safety rather than be diverted by the myths of health and safety.”

Judith Hackitt, the HSE chair, said: “Statistics on fatal injuries do not give us the whole picture. Work-related ill health is a significant problem and accounts for four times more working days lost than workplace injury, so there is still a major challenge we all face to prevent death, injury and ill health in all of our workplaces.

“These statistics are encouraging but there is no magic wand in health and safety. When those running organisations show personal leadership, and when workers are involved in tackling the risks that they face, safety can be improved and lives saved - that is how we can turn this encouraging sign into real sustained improvement.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .