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Kent is the worst in Britain for deaths in the workplace

Latest figures for fatalities and injuries at work show Kent and Medway had more casualties than any other part of the country.

Eleven people died in the county and 884 suffered major injuries between 2006 and 2007.

Lancashire was ranked the second worst with eight deaths and 808 injuries at work.

The figures, sourced from the Health and Safety Executive, were released by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).

The Kent deaths mainly happened within the service sector but also in the manufacturing, construction and agriculture industries.

The HSE could not specify the cause of the deaths but said the most common reason was falling from heights, such as roofs and scaffolding.

Major injuries ranged from broken arms and legs to a fractured skull or pelvis.

An HSE spokesman said: “The high levels of fatalities in the agriculture and construction sectors continue to be of particular concern to us and will be a major focus of HSE’s work priorities over the coming year.”

The number of accidental deaths and major injuries were broken down by each local authority area and by different industries.


Look below for the full county breakdown of fatalities and major injuries >>>


Lesley Mercer, head of employment relations and union services at the CSP, said: “One major or fatal injury at work is one too many.

“Employers need to take immediate steps to ensure that workplace accidents are prevented and all employees are protected from the potentially devastating effects.”

Medway Council had the largest number of major injuries reported with 117, of which 85 happened in the service sector and 19 in manufacturing.

Maidstone Borough Council had 109 reported accidents, of which 80 occurred in the office and 12 in factories.

Thanet had the least number of major injuries with 31, the majority happening in the office.

An HSE spokesman added: “These figures make clear the need for everyone, employers and employees alike to make a further effort to reduce workplace injuries and the resulting human misery.

“Evidence shows that where employers and employees work closely together to agree the agenda and set targets to tackle real issues, they have made significant improvements.

“We want this to continue and we also want to see employers taking more ownership and leadership to embed health and safety in their organizational culture and boardrooms.”


Breakdown of the fatalities countywide

Two deaths reported to Sevenoaks District Council happened in the farming and manufacturing sectors.

Two deaths reported to Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council occurred in the services and construction industries.

Two deaths reported to Shepway District Council were linked to farming and the construction industry.

Gravesham Borough Council had one reported death linked to working in a factory.

Maidstone Borough Council had a fatal injury reported of someone working in the services sector.

A death was reported to Medway Council connected with manufacturing.

Canterbury City Council had one death reported in construction.

Someone died in the services sector in the Dartford Borough Council area.

Major injuries reported countywide

Medway Council: 117 - 85 in services, 19 in manufacturing, 11 in construction and one in agriculture and one in extraction and utility supply.

Maidstone: 109 - 80 in services, 14 in construction, 12 in manufacturing and three in agriculture.

Swale Borough Council: 86 - 53 in services, 15 in construction, 14 in manufacturing and four in agriculture.

Tonbridge and Malling Council: 68 - 46 in services, 11 in manufacturing, 10 in construction and one in agriculture.

Canterbury City Council: 56 - 41 in services, 11 in construction, three in manufacturing and one in extraction and utility.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council: 49 - 33 in services, seven in manufacturing, six in construction and two in agriculture and one in extraction and utility.

Ashford Council: 45 - 24 in services, 10 in manufacturing, nine in construction and two in agriculture.

Shepway Council: 43 - 30 in services, seven in construction and six in manufacturing.

Dover – 42 - 30 in services, six in manufacturing, five in construction and one in agriculture.

Sevenoaks District Council: 40 - 27 in services, five in manufacturing, two in construction and one in agriculture and one in extraction and utility.

Gravesham Borough Council: 33 - 21 in services, seven in manufacturing, four in construction and one in agriculture.

Thanet District Council: 31 - 19 in services, six in construction and three in manufacturing and two in extraction and utility.

For more information on the statistics visit the HSE website

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