Safety figures reveal fewer injuries

Injuries such as fractures, burns and amputations as a result of incidents in workplaces in England, Wales and Scotland decreased by 11 per cent, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed yesterday.

The 148 fatal injuries were 23 fewer than the previous year, while the cost of injuries and ill-health was about £13.8bn in the year to 2011, compared with £16.3bn four years earlier.

HSE chair Judith Hackitt said: “This year’s figures demonstrate that Britain continues to be improve its health and safety performance, with important falls in the number of workers fatally injured and the number of employees suffering major injuries.

“But we still see too many deaths and injuries occur in the work place, many of which could have been prevented through simple safety measures. Getting this right is the key to ensuring that everyone can make it home safely at the end of their working day.