Provisional figures from the Health and Safety Executive have revealed that 144 people were killed at work between 2017 and 2018, slightly up from the prior year.
Once again, the most dangerous sector was construction, with 38 fatalities in total. Agriculture was a close second, with 28 deaths.
Manufacturing, transportation and storage, and waste and recycling were the next most dangerous sectors, with 15, 15, and 12 deaths in each sector respectively.
In terms of the deaths themselves, the most dangerous tasks were:
Falls from height, 35 deaths. Unsurprisingly the biggest killer, work at height has long been one of the riskiest jobs a person can do. However, most serious incidents can be avoided or minimised with the correct training, PPE and safety systems, such as lifelines or guardrail.
Struck by moving vehicle, 26 deaths. An unfortunately common occurrence in transport and logistics centres and warehouses, where moving vehicles are an integral part. A vital part of avoiding these kinds of incidents is ensuring workers are separated from these hazards by the inclusion of safety barriers, such as the Kee Klamp® Key Clamps system.
Struck by moving object, including flying or falling objects, 23 deaths. There is no surefire way to protect yourself from moving or falling objects, due to the unpredictable nature of construction sites, manufacturing centres and even agricultural centres. Ways to improve the safety of workers in these areas include using the correct PPE, especially headwear, and providing clear demarcated routes which employees can use to avoid dangerous areas.
Despite the minor increase from last year, where there were 136 total fatalities, there has been a general downward trend in the number of fatalities over the past two decades, and the UK remains one of the safest countries for workers in the EU. This is due to the ongoing commitment of companies to follow HSE guidelines and safety measures.
However, the only way to ensure this trend of general safety continues, is for employees and employers to do all they can to adhere to their health and safety responsibilities and make sure their site and behaviour is as safe as possible.
To ensure your site meets health and safety requirements, Kee Systems can carry out a full site survey. For more information on this, or any of our safety systems, call us on 0208 874 6566 or use our online contact form.
Tue, 12/18/2018 – 12:25
Provisional figures from the Health and Safety Executive have revealed that 144 people were killed at work between 2017 and 2018, slightly up from the prior year.
