Unsurprisingly, constructions, agriculture, waste/recycling and manufacturing are the sectors that were deemed to be the highest risk. The manufacturing sector in particular accounts for around 10 per cent of the British workforce, but for 25 per cent of fatalities to employees and 16 per cent of reported injuries.

An estimated 1.1 million employees also said they had contracted an illness or condition that was either caused or made worse by their job, down from 1.2 million in 2010/2011.
Injuries and incidents of ill health accounted for 27 million working days lost last year – an average of 16.8 days per case. These figures are only slightly up from the previous year, when 26.4 million working days were lost.

Although any reduction in the number of people being injured or made unwell as a result of their work should be welcomed, legal representatives Grieves Solicitors believe there is still plenty of room for improvement.

Speaking on behalf of the firm Helen Grieves, Principle Solicitor stated, 'Britain has earned a reputation of being one of the safest places to work in Europe, however there is still plenty more employers can do to ensure their workers walk into a safe environment.

'We need to ensure that we focus on managing the real risks which lead to serious workplace harm and attempt to significantly reduce this number. These statistics should act as a reminder to all of us of the reality thousands of employees being injured or made ill as a result of preventable workplace accidents and diseases.'

The HSE also reported a 21 per cent reduction in enforcement notices to employers this year raising concern. Many legal organisations including Grieves understand the importance enforcement places in helping to ensure health and safety laws are complied with and maintained.

Grieves Solicitors specialise in providing professional legal advice for those who have suffered from an accident at work. For more information visit http://www.grieves-solicitors.co.uk/work-accident-compensation-claims.php or call 0800 0747 644.