Deaths fall in recycling and waste industry

Five people were killed working in the recycling and waste industry between April 2011 and March 2012, according to recently released statistics from the Health & Safety Executive.

This is equivalent to a rate of 4.1 deaths per 100,000 workers, compared to an average of six deaths in the past five years and a decreased from the nine deaths (and rate of 8.4) recorded in 2010/11.

In the UK, a total of 173 workers were killed while at work during the same period.

HSE chair Judith Hackitt said: “Britain continues to have one of the lowest levels of workplace injuries in Europe, part of a long term downward trend.

“But we must not forget that these are lives cut short, not statistics – every single one of these deaths will have caused terrible grief and anguish for family and friends as well as workmates and colleagues. This is the real tragedy of health and safety failures – lives cut short and loved ones lost.

“We want employers to focus on the real risks that continue to cause death and serious injury. HSE is working very hard to make it easier for people to understand what they need to do and to focus on the real priorities. Protecting people from death and serious injury at work should be at the heart of what we do.”