HSE Fatality Stats UK 2010 - 2011

Summary for 2010/11

• The provisional figure for the number of workers fatally injured  in 2010/11
  is 171, and corresponds to a rate of fatal injury of 0.6 per 100 000 workers.
  


• 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 2010/11 data into the  time
  series  reinforces an  underlying downward trend.


• The figure of 171 worker deaths in 2010/11 is 17% lower than the  average
  for the past five years (205). In terms of the rate of fatal injuries,  the
  latest figure of 0.6 per 100 000 workers is 14% lower  than the five-year
  average rate of 0.7.


• The finalised figure for the number of workers fatally injured in 2009/10 is
  147, and corresponds to a rate of 0.5 deaths per 100 000 workers.


• Eurostat have made a comparison of the fatal injury rates  across EU
  countries. This reveals that the fatal injury rate for Great Britain is
  consistently one of the lowest  in Europe, These data can be found on the Eurostat
    website  [3]. From the 'Data  Navigation Tree' select
  'Population and social conditions'; then 'Health';  'Health and safety at work';
  'Accidents at work’.)


• There were 68 members of the public fatally injured in accidents  connected
  to work in 2010/11 (excluding railways-related incidents).

Worker fatalities by main industry *

• In agriculture there were 34 fatal injuries in 2010/11 with
  a corresponding rate of 8.0 deaths  per 100 000 workers. This compares to a rate
  of 9.6 when an average of the  previous five years is examined.


• In construction there were 50 fatal injuries, with a rate
  of 2.4 deaths per 100 000 workers.  This compares to an average rate of 2.8 for
  the previous five years.


• In manufacturing there were 27 fatal injuries, with a rate
  of 1.1 deaths per 100 000 workers  (the same rate as the average for the
  previous five years).


• In the services sector  there were 47 fatal injuries, with
  a rate of 0.2 deaths per 100 000 workers. (the  same rate as the average for the
  previous five years).


• In the waste and  recycling industry (categorised using SIC
  divisions 38 and 39) there were nine  fatal injuries, with a rate of 8.7 deaths
  per 100 000 workers. This compares to  an average rate of 7.0 for the previous
  five years.

* Statistics presented by industry use the Standard Industrial
Classification (SIC) system, which has recently changed from 'SIC 2003' to 'SIC
2007'. These statistics are presented on the new basis, with data for previous
years converted to the new classification.  Changes of this nature occur
periodically, to reflect how the industrial composition of the economy changes
over time. More detail and the implications for these statistics can be found in
the   full-year details[4] page.