Stay safe

22 August, 2018

Some 15 deaths were reported in the manufacturing sector (down from 18 in 2016/2017) and 15 deaths were reported in the transport and storage sector (up from 14 in 2016/2017). The most common causes of death in 2017/2018 were workers falling from height (35), being struck by a moving vehicle (26), being struck by a moving object (23), being trapped by something collapsing/overturning (16) and contact with moving machinery (13). The most common causes of death in 2016/2017 were workers falling from height (27), being struck by a moving vehicle (30), being struck by a moving object (19), being trapped by something collapsing/overturning (11) and contact with moving machinery (8).

Despite the fact that the UK consistently has one of the lowest rates of fatal injury across the EU (behind Finland) one of the most shocking indicators of all within the HSE report was the news that deaths from 'workers falling from height' had increased by 29%.

Richard Miller, managing director at powered access rental company Star Platforms, made the point that while it is good to see that the UK has one of the lowest rates of workplace deaths across the EU, and that there is a general, overall downward trend in workplace deaths in the UK, any increase in statistics is still of concern. “It's particularly surprising to see how many people over the age of 60 were killed at work in last year as normally the older you become the more risk averse you are. I wonder what factors are driving these particular deaths?”

He continued: "Though they never make for a cheerful read, figures like these are important to report on and help keep our focus on the health & safety of both employees and the general public that might be affected by workplace incidents. It encourages companies to reflect on their own practices and look at any potential or recurring problem areas and how they can be avoided or resolved.”

Miller’s view is that employers should ensure best practices are adopted and adhered to at all times, and employees should look out for each other too. “Though we're looking at the extreme end of the spectrum – people that have died as a result of an accident at work – there are many other non-fatal workplace injuries that occur every year, and even more that go unreported. No matter how small an incident it is essential that it is raised and addressed with the relevant people. That way, measures can be put in place to prevent it from happening again and becoming a real cause for concern.”

Statistics are all well and good for trend analysis, but the primary focus should always remain on rolling one’s sleeves up and practically addressing any area within the workplace that presents a risk of injury. If you haven’t got your health…

Ed Holden

Editor