Scots 'more likely' to die at work than rest of UK, report reveals

Scotland has the UK’s highest rate of deaths at work, according to the latest statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The watchdog revealed that the rate of accidental workplace deaths in Scotland is 0.65%, followed by the North West (0.62%), Wales (0.48%) and an overall rate of (0.39%) across England.

Statistics from RIDDOR (the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) reveal the number of workers killed in work-related accidents in 2023/24 was 138, while 604,000 workers sustained a self-reported non-fatal injury in the workplace during the same period.

There were 18 people killed at work in Scotland in the last year.

The HSE has launched investigations into several incidents.

In July, a 24-year-old man died in hospital nearly a week after an incident at a commercial premises in East Ayrshire, and in the same month, a Stena Line worker died after getting into difficulty in water at a port in Dumfries and Galloway.

Police, fire, ambulance and coastguard crews were scrambled to the Cairnryan Terminal, near Stranraer, at around 7.30am on Tuesday, July 23 after receiving reports of a man in difficulty. Supplied

In October, a man died following a serious incident at a Scottish sand mine near Oban, and emergency services were called to Dunfermline Recycling Centre after a 66-year-old man died of injuries at the scene.

In addition to the deaths, 43,000 workers suffered non-fatal injuries.

The HSE said that one explanation for the higher proportion of deaths could be that workers in Scotland are employed in “higher risk” occupations of industry sectors.

It comes after the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents revealed that Scotland was facing a “crisis” with the highest rate of accidental deaths in the UK.

The charity, which counts King Charles among its patrons, revealed that the rate of accidental deaths in Scotland is 56% higher than the UK overall.

Scotland

Scots more likely to die in accidents than rest of the UK, report warns

A study found that falls and poisonings were the biggest accidental killers across Scotland.

HSE chief Sarah Albon said: “This year marks 50 years since the legislation which established HSE was passed.

“Much has been achieved in that time, including a dramatic reduction of around 85 per cent in the numbers of employee fatal injuries in the workplace.

“Today, Great Britain is one of the safest places in the world to work but these statistics serve as a reminder that there is still room for further improvement, and we remain committed to ensuring people remain safe and healthy wherever work is taking place.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “It is an employer’s duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of their staff – and where death or injuries at work occur, there are a range of reserved offences which can be used to hold employers to account, if they are found to be criminally liable.

“The Scottish Government prioritises health, safety and wellbeing in the workplace through its Fair Work approach and currently supports a range of initiatives which supports employers to build healthier and safer workplaces.”