Relax… you’ve got through the deadliest workplace day of the year

For the most dangerous UK workplace day of the year statistically is Tuesday the 8^th of any month according to health and safety experts CE Safety's study of the last decade. And the last of those occurred in the second week of this month (October).

Say the authors: “The analysis breaks the data down by year, month, and date and reveals that Tuesday the 8th is the date you should be extra cautious of. 

“[In total] 373 people have died at work on a Tuesday in the UK and 84 workplace deaths occurred on the 8^th of the month.”

By contrast, 327 people died on a Friday and 80 on the 13^th.

However, the total number of fatalities in UK industrial and other places since 2008 of 1526 people reveals that, despite improved training and legislation, the rates have remained largely consistent rather than falling sharply.

Construction, perhaps unsurprisingly, remains the deadliest industry with 451 fatalities in the period, yet process sectors occupy the third fourth and fifth places: agriculture with 322 deaths, manufacturing (256) and waste management (82).

The biggest causes of tragedies are, in descending order, being struck by objects, contact with deadly objects/tools, falls, poisoning and explosions.

CE Safety senior consultant Gary Ellis remarked: “Workplace accidents often occur as a result of fatigue. Employers are ultimately responsible for the safety of their employees, and the many regulations and training available should be enough to start seeing these rates decline.

Unfortunately, the statistics show that they remain the same – and in our opinion, [that] means not enough is being done.”

While industrial sectors continue to dominate health and safety, one surprising statistic reveals the most dangerous place by location to be the Scottish Highlands. The majority of its 38 workplace deaths are attributed to being hit by cattle.

Photo: Safety experts HCL provide advice on height safety here.