HSE cautions against complacency

Date: 30th June 2008

Britain's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a warning against the onset of complacency in relation to work-related fatalities.

Following the publication of figures showing a reduction in the number of workplace fatalities, the HSE believes that everyone should still work towards reducing the death-toll even further.

"Whilst we welcome the headline decrease in overall numbers of fatalities, there is absolutely no room for complacency as the report suggests a plateau in the overall five year trend," said Judith Hackitt, chairman of the HSE, an organisation established as a consequence of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

"After many years of improvement, it is disappointing that we are on a performance plateau."

For the period between 2007 and 2008, HSE data shows that a total of 228 employees were killed, which is less than the 247 individuals who lost their lives during the previous year.