The number of injuries and fatalities in the waste and recycling sector has fallen from last year, according to new statistics from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).

According to the ‘Health and safety in waste and recycling in Great Britain, 2014’ report, there were 1,565 over-seven-day injuries, compared with 1,725 in 2012/13.

Of the injuries, 486 were ‘major’, down from 528 in 2012/13. This equates to 363.2 injuries per 100,000 employees, compared to a five-year average of 448.

HSE found that in the past five years, most of the ‘major’ injuries were caused by slips or falls (38 per cent), followed by being struck by an object (14 per cent), and falling from height (13 per cent).

The number of fatalities also dropped, as for the year 2013/14 there were four fatal injuries to workers, including two fatal injuries to self-employed people, ‘much lower’ than in 2012/13, when 10 workers and three members of the public suffered fatal injuries. One member of the public was also fatally injured.

All of the fatal injuries in the last year happened in the waste collection sector, and, as is the case for the majority of deaths over the last five years, were caused by incidents with vehicles.

HSE outlines that over the past five years there has been ‘much year-to-year variability’ in injuries, with ‘no overall trend’.

Overall figures

For the whole of Britain, there were 133 fatal injuries in all industries, down from 150 the previous year, and 77,593 other injuries reported (304.6 injuries per 100,000 employees).

Refuse and salvage occupations had the second highest overall injury rate of any occupation in 2012/13 and 2013/14, with only metal making and treating process operatives having higher rates.

An estimated two million people also suffered from an illness they believed was caused or made worse by current or past work in 2013/14.

Speaking of the figures for all sectors, the Chair of HSE, Judith Hackitt, said: “These latest figures remind us what health and safety is really about. We should remind ourselves what these numbers actually mean – the number of times in the last year someone went out to work and either did not return home to their loved ones or came home with life-changing injuries.

“The health numbers also demonstrate the scale of harm being done to people’s health while at work, too often leading to premature death.

“Britain has one of the best health and safety systems in the world, but that is cold comfort to those who have suffered loss or suffering that is so easily avoided with sensible and proportionate risk management.

“We all need to commit to focusing on what really matters – ensuring more people return home from work every day and enjoy long and healthy working lives.”

Read the ‘Health and safety in waste and recycling in Great Britain, 2014’ report’ or the full statistics for Britain as a whole.