New figures from the Health and Safety Commission reveal that the number of fatal accidents in the workplace has fallen to a record low.

In 2005/2006 212 people were fatally injured, a reduction from 223 in 2004/2005. The rate is also the lowest on record, at a rate of 0.71 fatalities per 100,000 workers.

The figures also contain a comparison across Europe, which shows Great Britain as having the lowest fatal injury rate in Europe.

Falls from height remain the most common cause of fatal injury, with 46 workers being killed following a fall compared to 53 workers killed in 2004/2005.

Construction and agriculture account for just under half of all fatal injuries but both industries have seen sizeable reductions in the number and rate of fatalities. In construction there was a 14 per cent drop in the number of fatal injuries resulting in the lowest rate on record and in agriculture there was a reduction of 21 per cent to the lowest rate since 1999/2000.

Lord Hunt, minister for health and safety, said: “I am pleased to see both the reduction in the number of people killed at work and also the fall in the rate of fatal injuries down to the lowest rate on record.

“I recognise this is down to the efforts of many people, not just the regulators, the Health and Safety Commission/Executive and the local authorities, but also employers and employees and their respective organisations. I want to commend their efforts in achieving this improvement.

“But despite this good news, we cannot be complacent. 212 deaths are 212 deaths too many, and we must continue to focus our efforts on making further improvements and reducing this number even further.”

Bill Callaghan, chair of HSC agreed, saying: “The figures are very encouraging but more needs to be done. There are still too many people killed at work every year, and quite often simple, inexpensive measures could have prevented the tragic loss of life.”