The number of British people who were killed as a result of injuries caused by an accident in the workplace has risen in the last year, recent figures have shown.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that 171 people died due to accidents at work in Britain in the 12 months up to March 2011; 24 more than the previous year’s record low of 147.The construction industry saw the most workplace fatalities, with 50 construction workers in Britain dying due to workplace accidents.

Other industries with a notable increase in employee deaths include agriculture, with 34 agriculture employees killed in workplace accidents last year, and recycling, which suffered 9 worker fatalities.

Judith Hackitt, chairman of the HSE, has labelled the increase in British workplace deaths as “disappointing”, but has also pointed out that the UK still has one of the lowest rates of fatal workplace injuries of anywhere in Europe.

Speaking about the latest figures, Hackitt said: “It is a stark reminder of the need to ensure that health and safety remains focused on the real risks which exist in workplaces, not on trivia and pointless paperwork.

“We all have a role to play – employers, employees and regulators – and leadership is fundamental to maintaining and improving our performance even further. In a world of work which is constantly changing, we must all continue to review what we do and how we do it and strive to become even more effective at managing risks which cost lives”

For more information about how to make an accident at work claim or any other personal injury claim then visit http://www.paulrooney.co.uk/