Work accident news
05/11/2009

ONS statistics reveal occupational death figures

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released figures and findings for work-related accidents and illnesses that caused death between 1991 and 2000.

The report revealed 'excess mortality rates' for deaths attributed to accidents at work over the ten year period - excess mortality being mortality above expected rates based on the usual rate expected among the population in question.

Among male workers, an excess of approximately 1,300 fatalities over the ten years were considered attributable to work accidents. Contributing accident categories were motor vehicle accidents (500 excess deaths), machinery-related injuries (117) and worker falls from buildings (96).

Women had a much lower excess mortality rate for occupational deaths. The main category for female worker fatalities was motor accidents (29 excess deaths).

Although the report revealed links between certain types of occupation and a greater number of work-related accidents and deaths, it was pointed out that the report's statistics did not prove a causal link between an occupation and the risk of accident, disease or death.