GMB says official workplace fatality figures hide tens of thousands of related deaths
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GMB, which has members across every sector of the British economy, said today’s official workplace death figures hide tens of thousands of related deaths.
Official HSE figures show 137 people died at work in the financial year 2016/17.
GMB says while the number of deaths is down slightly, they are just the tip of the iceberg and every death demands justice and enforcement.
Dan Shears, GMB Health and Safety Director, said:
“Whilst this is a low figure compared to the plateau of recent years, it is absolutely no cause for celebration.
“Each of these avoidable deaths is a tragic cutting short of a life, and leaves behind devastated family, friends, and colleagues.
“Every one of these deaths deserves full investigation, with enforcement and prosecution where warranted.
“In an economy moving from industrial manufacture to service provision, it remains shocking that 137 died at work – and this figure excludes tens of thousands of deaths due to industrial disease, work-related suicide, and deaths on road, rail, air and sea.
“It gives a misleading picture of the true ‘burden’ of health and safety failings on our society.
“The recent disaster at Grenfell Tower shows the consequences of deregulation, and this government and future governments must ensure that our regulations are protected, strengthened, and proactively enforced, so that next years’ statistics reflect genuine progress and protection of workers.
“No-one ever died from too much regulation, but the human cost of ‘cutting red tape’ remains intolerable.”
