The provisional figure for the number of workers fatally injured in 2008/09 is 180, and corresponds to a rate of fatal injury of 0.6 per 100 000 workers.
The rate of fatal injury for 2008/09 represents a statistically significant decrease compared to the average rate for the previous five years.
Given that these statistics are based on a count of events that are rare, they are highly subject to chance variation from one year to the next. Therefore, when seeking to use the data to make inferences about changes in the inherent dangerousness of work conditions, it is necessary to look at trends over a number of years. The incorporation of the 2008/09 data into the time series reinforces an underlying downward trend that previously seemed to be levelling off.
The figure of 180 worker deaths is 22% lower than the average for the past five years (231). In terms of the rate of fatal injuries, the latest figure of 0.59 per 100 000 workers is 23% lower than the five-year average rate of 0.77.
The finalised count of fatal injuries to workers for 2007/08 was 233, representing a net increase of 4 compared to the provisional figure of 229 released last year. A few incidents occurring towards the end of the period can be reported late; while some fatal investigations can take time to conclude, with the records being updated accordingly as the latest information becomes available.
Comparison with data from other EU countries over a number of years reveals that the fatal injury rate for Great Britain is consistently one of the lowest in Europe. The most recent comparative data is for 2006 and shows that amongst the five largest EU countries, Great Britain has had the lowest fatal injury rate for a five-year period. The latest comparisons of workplace fatal injuries in Great Britain and other EU countries can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/european/fatal.htm.
There were 94 members of the public fatally injured in accidents connected to work in 2008/09 (excluding railways-related incidents).
Worker fatalities by main industry
In agriculture there were 26 fatal injuries in 2008/09 with a corresponding rate of 5.7 deaths per 100 000 workers. This compares to a rate of 9.9 when an average of the previous five years is examined.
In construction there were 53 fatal injuries, with a rate of 2.4 deaths per 100 000 workers. An average of the previous five years shows a rate of 3.4. There is an overall downward trend in the rate of fatal injury to workers in this sector.
In manufacturing there were 32 deaths and the rate of fatal injury was 1.1 per 100 000 workers, the same as the average rate for the previous five years.
In the services sector there were 63 fatalities, and the rate of fatal injury in 2008/09 is the same as the average rate for the previous five years (0.3).
