On 2 July 2014, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) released provisional data indicating that the number of workers killed in Britain last year has fallen to the lowest annual rate on record. According the HSE, 133 workers were fatally injured between April 2013 and March 2014, compared with 150 in the previous year. Therefore, the overall rate of fatal injury has dropped to 0.44 per 100,000 workers, compared to 0.51 in 2012/13.
 
The provisional data also shows the rate of fatal injuries in several key industrial sectors:
 
There were 27 fatal injuries to workers in agriculture, lower than the average of 33 for the previous five years. The rate of fatal injury in 2013/14 is 8.77, compared to the five-year average rate of 9.89.
There were 42 fatal injuries to workers in construction, lower than the average figure of 46. The latest rate of fatal injury is 1.98 per 100,000 workers, compared to a five-year average of 2.07.
There were 4 fatal injuries to workers in waste and recycling, lower than the average count of 7 over the last five years. The latest rate of 3.33 deaths per 100,000 compares to an average rate of 5.48
 
Across Great Britain:
 
106 fatal injuries in England were recorded – a rate of 0.41 deaths per 100,000 workers, compared to an average of 134 deaths in the past five years and a decrease from the 119 deaths (and rate of 0.47) recorded in 2012/13
20 fatal injuries in Scotland were recorded – a rate of 0.78 deaths per 100,000 workers, compared to an average of 21 deaths in the past five years and a decrease from the 23 deaths (and rate of 0.90) recorded in 2012/13
7 fatal injuries in Wales were recorded – a rate of 0.52 deaths per 100,000 workers, compared to an average of 10 deaths in the past five years and a decrease from the 8 deaths (and rate of 0.61) recorded in 2012/13
 
Sadly, the HSE has also released the latest number of deaths from mesothelioma showing that 2,535 people died in 2012, which is an increase from 2,291 in 2011.
 
These figures are provisional and will be finalised in July 2015 pending any further information. Further data will be released in October 2014 on the numbers of serious injuries and estimates of the numbers of premature deaths caused by harmful exposures in the workplace.
 
For further information please click on the following link: http://press.hse.gov.uk/2014/new-figures-show-all-time-low-in-fatal-injuries-to-workers/?ebul=gd-welding&cr=5/Jul14