The Health and Safety Executive has released the annual report on workplace fatality figures for 2018/2019 with some worrying findings.
Annual data for work-related fatal injuries revealed that 147 workers were fatally injured between April 2018 and March 2019 – a figure branded ‘worryingly high’ by HSE Chair, Martin Temple.
Since 1981, there has been a long-term reduction in the number of fatalities at work, but the 2018/2019 period bucked this trend. The most recent data shows an increase of six fatalities, suggesting workplace safety could be heading in the wrong direction, much to the concern of the HSE and employers.
With 30 deaths across the agricultural, manufacturing and construction sectors accounting for the bulk of workplace fatalities in the last 12 months, Midland Pallet Trucks is urging any employer that requires their workers to work at height to consider upgrading their current elevation equipment with a mobile aerial work platform or platform lift to safeguard employees against the risks associated with those types of tasks.
Falls when working at height accounted for the majority of workplace fatalities last year with 40 deaths resulting from this type of incident. Therefore, it is imperative that employees have access to lifting platforms in order for them to stay safe when carrying out their duties.
Midland Pallet Trucks, a provider of high-quality lifting equipment including pallet trucks, manual stacker trucks and lift tables, has a wide range of high-quality lifting products to safeguard the health and wellbeing of staff.
Mobile aerial work platforms are a vital piece of equipment that should be available to any employee working at height and are particularly crucial for the manufacturing, construction and warehousing industries.
Phil Chesworth, Managing Director of Midland Pallet Trucks, said “Although workplace fatalities have seen an overall downward trajectory since 1981, it is still worrying that 40 employees died as a result of falls from height and weren’t able to return home to their families as usual after going to work.
“Our range of mobile aerial work platforms not only offer excellent value for money but can help protect the health and wellbeing of workers, which is something that you cannot put a price on.”
