Workplace fatal injuries in Great Britain, 2020
HSE (Health and Safety Executive) have published their latest report ‘Workplace fatal injuries in Great Britain, 2020’ which provides updated annual statistics of workplace fatalities across all main industries in the UK for 2019/20.
HSE (Health and Safety Executive) have published their latest report ‘Workplace fatal injuries in Great Britain, 2020’ which provides updated annual statistics of workplace fatalities across all main industries in the UK for 2019/20.
The report shows that the outdoor industries have the highest fatality statistics. Both Construction sector and the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing sector come out the worst, accounting for the greatest number of fatalities each year, totalling 60% of all workplace fatalities in 2019/20. The rates of fatal injuries (per 100,000 workers) highlights that Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing and the Waste and recycling sectors are the highest being 18 times higher than the average across all industries.
The rate of fatal injury in Construction, while around 4 times as high as the average rate across all industries, is considerably less than the rate in either Agriculture, forestry and fishing or Waste and recycling, despite accounting for a greater number of cases than these sectors. The Manufacturing and the Transportation and storage sector have a rate of fatal injury around twice the average rate across all industries.
HSE have detailed that the main causes of these injuries are attributed to falls from a height, struck by a moving vehicle, struck by moving objects, trapped by something collapsing or overturning and contact with moving machinery.
The rate of fatality increases with age across all industries; and in the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing sector most fatal injuries are for self-employed workers (65%), which is higher than any other industry.
The key takeaways from the report are the higher risks inherent when working in outdoor industries and the need to continually focus on improving health and safety to lower these statistics. It is important that employers assess risks for all their workers, including those who are self employed and contractors, to identify all the different hazards they will face while working and implement the most appropriate control measures to mitigate these risks.
To read the report in full please click here.
Creating a sensible approach to health and safety requires sound policies supported by practical measures. At Trackplot we are here to help provide a safe working environment. We can use your risk assessments to scope a lone worker solution fit for your business operations.