STATISTICS - 03.09.2020

Workplace fatalities reduce to record low

The HSE’s provisional figures for 2019/20 show that the number of workers killed was 111. How significant is this and do the statistics show which activities carry the greatest risk?

Good news story?

The total of 111 deaths is 38 fewer than the previous year, and roughly 30 to 35 below what would be have been expected based on the five-year average. However, as the HSE points out, the final two months of the year had far from usual economic activity and this may have contributed to the apparent improvement. It therefore warns against seeing this as a dramatic downward trend, or indeed as a sign of a major improvement in workplace safety. Note. The figures don’t include deaths from occupational disease. Coronavirus infection is therefore not covered.

Causes

The three most common causes of fatal injury have not changed for many years. These continue to be: (1) falling from height (29 deaths in the year 2019/20); (2) being struck by a moving vehicle (20); and (3) being struck by a moving object (18). These three types of accident accounted for 60% of fatal injuries.

Tip. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the number of different health and safety priorities facing your business. But regardless of the pull towards better fire safety or improved mental health, etc. don’t ever lose sight of these major hazard areas. Falls from height, moving vehicles and moving materials/machinery should always be a top priority, not only because they can kill, but because they do so on a regular basis.

Needing “danger money”

If you ask anyone to name the most hazardous industry to work in, many will say “construction”. Whilst this sector continues to have a fatality rate about four times the average, it’s not the worst. The waste and recycling sector has one of the highest rates of fatal accidents at 18 times the average. Agriculture, forestry and fishing also carries a similar level of risk. Note. The HSE’s press release states that it’s completely unacceptable that industries with such a small proportion of the workforce can lose so many workers in a year, and therefore inspectors will almost certainly be targeting waste, recycling, agriculture, forestry and fishing. As noted in the statistics, those over 60 are disproportionately at risk: 27% of those killed were from this age group, despite the category representing just 10% of the workforce. Tip. If you have older workers, consider whether additional measures are needed to keep them safe, e.g. regular health checks, mechanisation, adjustment to working hours.

More data

The other figures the HSE has covered in this release are for members of the public killed in work-connected accidents: there were 51 in total, 33 of which occurred in the health and social care sectors. Deaths from mesothelioma are also outlined. These came down from 2,523 to 2,446. The HSE appears to think this is the beginning of a gradual decline in annual deaths, which is as expected, since those dying from this disease now do so from their work decades earlier when exposure to asbestos fibres was less controlled.

The reduction by more than 30 accidental deaths in a year is more likely to be a coronavirus side effect than a real improvement. 60% of the fatal accidents were linked to work at height, moving vehicles and moving objects, e.g. materials or machines, so these will be a priority for inspectors.

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