Labour MEP Glenis Willmott has welcomed recent figures revealing that the number of people killed at work in Britain has fallen to a record low.  But she has warned that this improvement may be at threat.

Statistics released last week by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) showed fatal injuries at work in the UK fell from 233 in 2007/08 to a record low of 180 in 2008/09, and there was also a substantial reduction in the number of serious workplace injuries.

“Each of these 180 deaths is a tragedy, but the figures as a whole are hugely encouraging.” Mrs Willmott said. “They show the impact of good, effective legislation, most of it coming form Europe, when supported by unions and employers.”

“But we need to guard against two possible threats.   The first is the possible impact of coming out of recession.  Historically, when we start moving back into economic growth, the rate of work-related injuries has tended to rise.”

“The second threat comes from those who refuse to take health and safety seriously, and treat new legislation as a joke.  I have lost count of the number of times that new laws to look after people at work have been opposed in the European Parliament.   Only last year, for example, Conservative and Libdem MEPs voted against proposals to protect workers against cancer-causing chemicals and against third party violence.”

“This year’s figure is a substantial improvement.  It’s up to all of us, legislators, employers and workers, to maintain, and improve on this.”

Further information

For HSE figures www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overall/hssh0809.pdf