HSC reports on U.K. safety record

LONDON—Since 1974 the lives of some 5,000 workers in the United Kingdom have been saved due to accident prevention measures, according to the Health and Safety Commission. The estimate takes into account the trend towards lower-risk service sector jobs and away from heavy industry.

In its report, "Measuring Up... Performance Report 2006," the HSC said that there were 614 work related deaths in 1975 compared with 212 for 2005/06. In spite of the improvements the HSC said that there is "a great deal more to do".

Six years ago the regulator set targets for reducing work related ill health, injuries and days lost. Last month it said that it was on track for meeting the ill health and days lost targets but was not on track to meet the 10-year target for fatal and major injuries.

On the challenges for the future the HSC said that regulation must keep pace with the shift towards the service sector in the United Kingdom and the emergence of a more diverse workforce in terms of age, gender, ethnicity and patterns of work.

"This means more focus on occupational health issues and continuing to reach workers and employers in various ways," the HSC said in the report.

The report is available at www.hse.gov.uk