Slips and trips still most common accidents
New statistics detailing the number of work-related accidents and injuries which occurred in Britain over the past year have been released by the country's Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
There were 152 workers who were killed in workplace accidents in Britain — down from 179 the previous year.
According to the HSE's annual round-up of data, there were 26,061 reported major injuries to workers in 2009/2010, compared with 27,894 in 2008/09.
The most common non-fatal recorded work place accidents involve slipping and tripping (41 per cent). Falling from a height accounted for 16 per cent.
A total of 95, 369 workplace accidents led to absences of three days or more. Accidents involving handling, lifting and carrying were responsible for 36 per cent of these, with slipping and tripping accounting for 24 per cent.
The average British worker will be absent from work for 1.2 days per year due to an accident that occurred in the workplace or an illness that was contracted as a result of working conditions.
The HSE survey found that occupations within the agriculture, transport, storage and communication and construction sectors had markedly higher injury rates.
Ill health rates tended to be higher than average in the health and social work and public administration sectors.
