Fresh warning about workplace safety

David Sowerby

Two people lost their lives while at work in Greater Manchester last year and 1,116 suffered a major injury, according to the latest statistics.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a fresh warning about workplace safety after the number of deaths rose across Great Britain in 2010/11. It is urging employers to make the safety of workers their top priority for 2012, and is reminding them of their legal responsibility to ensure lives are not put at risk.

A total of 171 people were killed at work in Great Britain last year, compared to 147 deaths during 2009/10. More than 24,700 workers also suffered a major injury in 2010/11.

The two deaths and 1,116 major injuries in Greater Manchester compare to four deaths and 1,272 major injuries in 2009/10. Another 4,139 workers suffered an injury or ill health which required them to take at least three days off work in 2010/11, compared to 4,520 in 2009/10.

There were 91 major injuries in Rochdale in 2010/11, compared with 94 in 2009/10

The latest provisional figures show that, on average, six in every million workers were killed while at work between April 2010 and March 2011.

High-risk industries include construction which had 50 deaths last year, agriculture with 34 deaths, and waste and recycling with nine deaths, making up more than half of all workplace deaths in Great Britain during 2010/11.

David Sowerby, HSE's Regional Director for the North West, said: “The families of the two workers in Greater Manchester who lost their lives last year had to face Christmas without them. Hundreds of other workers have had their lives changed forever by a major injury.

“These statistics highlight why we need good health and safety in British workplaces. Employers should spend their time tackling the real dangers that workers face rather than worrying about trivial risks or pointless paperwork.

“It’s important to remember that we still have one of the lowest rates of workplace deaths in Europe, but one death is still one too many. I’d urge businesses to help cut the number of deaths in 2012.”