Annual accident statistics released

Figures for the number of workers who were fatally injured in various sectors have been released by HSE. They show that between April 2009 and March 2010 there were 41 construction workers killed compared to an average of 66 workers in each of the previous five years. There was a 20% fall on 2008/09 when 52 workers died. The services sector fared slightly worse with 42 workers killed at work, though this compares well with the 72 in the previous five years, and is a reduction of nearly a third on 2008/09 when 62 workers died. Improvements were also recorded in the manufacturing sector where 24 workers were killed compared to an average of 38 in the past five years. This is a reduction of 27% on 2008/09 when 33 workers died.