FORESTRY was among the sectors to record the highest rate of deaths in work-related accidents in the UK last year. 

New figures released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) showed there were eight fatal incidents in agriculture, forestry and fishing per 100,000 workers - eight times that of second-ranked construction.

A total of 22 deaths were recorded in the three sectors - which are grouped together by the HSE - in the year between April 2021 and March 2022. Construction (30 deaths), manufacturing (22), and transportation and storage (16) were among the other industries included in the annual data. 

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However, deaths had fallen in agriculture, forestry and fishing from the previous yearly figure of 34 and were lower than the five-year average, which stands at 28. 

Across the UK, 123 workers were killed in work-related accidents, according to the HSE. 

Sarah Albon, HSE’s chief executive, said: “While Great Britain is one of the safest countries in the world to work, today’s figures show we must continue to ensure safety remains a priority.

"Every loss of life is a tragedy, and we are committed to making workplaces safer and holding employers to account for their actions, as part of our mission to protect people and places.”

The three most common causes of fatal injuries continue to be falling from height (29), being struck by a moving vehicle (23), and being struck by a moving object (18).  

The 123 worker deaths in 2021/22 is lower than the previous year, though it is in line with pre-pandemic figures. There has been a long-term downward trend in the rate of fatal injuries to workers, though in the years prior to the coronavirus pandemic the rate was broadly flat.