The UK consistently has one of the lowest fatal injury rate across the EU according to HSE statistics.
Thankfully fatal injuries, classed as a personal injury resulting in the death of an injured person, are rare events
In 2012 the standardised fatality rate was 0.58 fatalities per 100,000 workers. This compares favourably with other comparable EU economies.
The following list shows fatality rates per 100,000 workers:
- France 2.64
- Spain 1.99
- Italy 1.29
- Germany 0.9
- UK 0.58
The detail statistics also show that the UK has one of the lowest absence due to work related illness rates in the EU.
The following list highlights the % of workers taking time off work due to work related health problem:
- Poland 7.7
- France 5.4
- Spain 2.8
- Italy 1.9
- UK 1.9
Figures for 2015/16 encouraging
In 2015/16 the provisional figure for workers suffering fatal injury is 144. This figure is a 7% improvement on the average for the previous 5 years.
Rates of non fatal injury have also been on a downward trend, although this has slowed over the past few years.
It is clear that the workplace is becoming a gradually safer place to be. We think this is in no small part due to the ratification of sensible health and safety legislation and the gradual bedding in of the relevant safety processes.
Although we have seen growth in work injury enquiries in the past 12 months, this has been at a slower rate of increase than in other areas of personal injury such as road traffic accidents.
Under the Fatal Accidents Act, a spouse, civil partner or child of the fatally injured person can claim compensation providing of course their financial situation has been severely affected by the loss.
The compensation levels awarded in fatal injury claims tend to vary on the circumstances of the death and the level of involvement from the party at fault, ranging from £1,000 through to £19,000.
Author
Gill Laing is a qualified Legal Researcher & Analyst with niche specialisms in Law, Tax, Human Resources, Immigration & Employment Law.
Gill is a Multiple Business Owner and the Managing Director of Prof Services - a Marketing Agency for the Professional Services Sector.
