The number of work-related injuries and fatalities in the retail sector has plummeted in the past year, latest figures from the Health & Safety Executive have revealed.
There were six fatal injuries to workers in the retail and wholesale trade between 2006 and 2007, compared with 16 the year before.
The number of reported major injuries to employees between 2006 and 2007 also fell to 3,603 - 117 fewer than recorded in the previous year.
Slipping and tripping were behind 38% of all the major injuries reported, while 22% were as a result of lifting or carrying. Employees being hit by a moving or falling object made up 14% of major injuries.
The data also found that, on average, the number of full days lost each year as a result of workplace-related illness or injury was 1.1 per worker - slightly lower than the rate of 1.3 days per worker for all industries.
The most common kind of fatal injury to workers across all industries is falling from a height, with 45 workers killed by falls in 2006/07. The number of accidents of this kind has shown a general downward trend over the past 10 years.
"The retail industry has been making strenuous efforts of late to identify the causes of accidents and fatalities, and has taken strong steps to implement countermeasures," said a spokesman for the Federation of Small Businesses.
"These positive figures indicate that retailers' efforts are paying off. However there is still more work to be done."
There were six fatal injuries to workers in the retail and wholesale trade between 2006 and 2007, compared with 16 the year before.
The number of reported major injuries to employees between 2006 and 2007 also fell to 3,603 - 117 fewer than recorded in the previous year.
Slipping and tripping were behind 38% of all the major injuries reported, while 22% were as a result of lifting or carrying. Employees being hit by a moving or falling object made up 14% of major injuries.
The data also found that, on average, the number of full days lost each year as a result of workplace-related illness or injury was 1.1 per worker - slightly lower than the rate of 1.3 days per worker for all industries.
The most common kind of fatal injury to workers across all industries is falling from a height, with 45 workers killed by falls in 2006/07. The number of accidents of this kind has shown a general downward trend over the past 10 years.
"The retail industry has been making strenuous efforts of late to identify the causes of accidents and fatalities, and has taken strong steps to implement countermeasures," said a spokesman for the Federation of Small Businesses.
"These positive figures indicate that retailers' efforts are paying off. However there is still more work to be done."
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