HSE Fatal Injury Statistics in the Workplace 2012/13

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Letter to Branches




No. 466/13
Ref EX5/13
Date: 5 July 2013

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

HSE Fatal Injury Statistics in the Workplace 2012/13

The HSE has published a provisional figure for the number of workers fatally injured at work and members of the public fatally injured in accidents connected to work in 2012/13.

The figures reveal:-
148 worker deaths in 2012/13
113 members of the public fatally injured in accidents connected to work in 2012/13
Total 261

(The average for the past five years is 181 worker deaths and therefore the current figure represents an 18% fall)

Although the fall in the number of workplace fatalities announced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is welcome, the statistics don't give the full picture and the number is still too high and will be of no comfort to the families of those killed. It's also worth remembering that the number of immediate fatalities is less than one per cent of the total number of people who are killed as a result of their jobs - mainly as a result of diseases such as Asbestos related diseases, mesothelioma and Asbestosis plus other cancers.

Many occupational diseases are still on the increase and much more needs to be done to protect workers from the long-term effects of their work. Every year more than
20,000 people die as a result of ill-health brought on by their working conditions. More worryingly, the cuts to Safety Inspections by the HSE and Local Authority EHOs mean
that fewer workplaces will receive a visit from an Enforcement Authority Inspector this year. This risks creating an environment where some employers will pay less attention
to workplace safety, content in the knowledge that any safety corners cut are unlikely ever to come to light. It is also a concern that a third of immediate workplace deaths
are among the self-employed. These workers have a fatality rate almost three times higher - 1.1 deaths per 100,000, compared to 0.4 - than other workers. This shows the
importance of ensuring that everyone at work is properly protected - something that will become much harder if the government goes through with Health and Safety
deregulation plans which include exempting many of the self-employed from health and safety law protection.

A full copy of the HSE Publication "Statistics on fatal injuries in the workplace 2012/13 - Full-year details and technical notes" is attached.




Fatal injury statistics Summary for 2012/13:
The provisional figure for the number of workers fatally injured in 2012/13 is 148, and corresponds to a rate of fatal injury of 0.5 deaths per 100 000 workers.
The figure of 148 worker deaths in 2012/13 is 18% lower than the average for the past five years (181). The latest rate of fatal injury of 0.5 compares to the
five-year average rate of 0.6.
The finalised figure for 2011/12 is 172 worker fatalities, and corresponds to a rate of 0.6 deaths per 100 000 workers.
Fatal injuries are subject to chance variation, fluctuating year-on-year, therefore it is necessary to look at trends over a number of years. When the 2012/13 data
is added to the time series, the latest five years indicates a levelling-off, with no overall trend.
There were 113 members of the public fatally injured in accidents connected to work in 2012/13 (excluding railways-related incidents).

Excluded from the statistics:
Fatal accidents involving workers killed on a public highway in a 'road traffic accident' whilst driving at work (over 1000 more deaths).
Those killed whilst commuting (travelling to/from home and work are also excluded.
Fatal diseases are not included in these figures, irrespective of whether the disease is notified under RIDDOR (20,000 of those).
Fatal accidents involving workers travelling by air or sea.  
Fatal injuries at work due to 'natural causes' (e.g. heart attacks or strokes etc) unless brought on by trauma due to the accident.
Accidents to members of the armed forces.
Suicides (although those occurring to members of the public on railways are specifically included under RIDDOR).
Members of the public killed as a consequence of physical violence.


Yours sincerely


Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer