Workplace fatalities fall slightly in the region

THE number of people killed in the workplace in the West Midlands has fallen slightly.

New research from the Health and Safety Executive shows that 10 people lost their lives between April 1, 2009, and March 31 this year.

This compares with 11 fatalities in the workplace during 2008/09 and an average of 22 work-related deaths per year, over the past five years in the region.

Further breakdown of the 10 deaths by geography or industry sector are not yet available from the HSE.

Nationally, the number of people killed at work has fallen to a new record low with 151 workers dying at work during 2009/10, down from the previous lowest total of 178 in the year before.

Steve Flanagan, HSE principal inspector in the West Midlands, said: “While it’s heartening to see a reduction in the number of work-related deaths in the West Midlands, it’s simply not good enough that 10 people failed to come home from work to their families last year.

“Many of these unnecessary deaths could have been avoided if simple and sensible precautions had been in place, and if workers had been involved in dealing with the risks they face.

“Once again agriculture is the most dangerous industry in which to earn a living and we all must work hard to tackle the poor safety record in this sector.

“For the sake of those workers who have lost their lives, HSE will continue to take an uncompromising approach to safety.”

HSE chair Judith Hackitt added: “It’s really very encouraging to see a further reduction in workplace fatalities in the past year.

“This is performance which owes much to good practice, leadership and employee engagement.

“As with all health and safety statistics, the announcement is a combination of encouraging news about improvement but also a salutary reminder of the tragedies of lives lost at work.”

The workplace fatalities for the West Midlands over the past six years are as follows:

2009/10 – 10
2008/09 – 11
2007/08 – 22
2006/07 – 35
2005/06 – 16
2004/05 – 26