New statistics show big improvements in Britain’s workplace safety and health record

Britain became a healthier and safer place to work last year, according to figures released 28 October by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Statistics show there has been a significant reduction in the numbers of people killed, injured or suffering work related ill health from April 2008 to March 2009.

Across England, Scotland and Wales, 29.3 million working days (equivalent to 1.24 days per worker) were lost to injury and ill health last year - compared with 33.9 million in 2007/08.

Workplace fatal injuries fell from 233 in 2007/08 to a record low of 180 in 2008/09, and there was a reduction of more than 7,000 in the number of workplace injuries classified as serious or incurring more than three days absence from work.

Comparison with international data shows Britain to be one of the safest places to work in the EU.

For further information, please visit the links below:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2009/statistics.htm

http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/