The Scottish TUC has expressed disappointment at the latest fatal accident figures released by the Health and Safety Executive which reveal Scotland still has, yet again, witnessed a higher fatal injury rate than other countries and regions in Britain.
Ian Tasker, STUC Health and Safety Officer said “While the headline figures show that there has been a reduction in the number of fatal injuries to workers, this improvement has been partially offset by a rise in fatalities among the self employed”.
“The HSE figures reveal that for deaths of all workers, regardless of their employment status actual deaths have fallen from 37 in 2004/05 to 32 in 2005/06”.
“In addition, the figure for 2004/05 reflected the tragic loss of nine workers in the ICL/Stockline explosion, a tragedy on a scale that no one would want to witness again”.
“Scotland’s incidence rate of fatal injury to employees per 100 000 is almost twice that of Britain as a whole, and these figures are of particular concern at a time when the HSE have announced plans to cut 250 to 350 posts”.
“However these figures are analysed, an overall total of 32 Scottish workers lost their lives in workplace accidents. Statistics cannot measure the pain, suffering and misery that many Scottish families face as a result”.
“It is vitally important that the trade union movement in Scotland continues to fight for safer workplaces and ensuring that all those who suffer injustice following involuntary killing anywhere in our society are treated equally by our justice system”.
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For further information contact Ian Tasker T 0141 337 8100
The Scottish fatality figures can be found at The Health & Safety Executive website
