The Welsh Assembly government has pledged to reduce work-related deaths and injuries, after figures showed five people in Wales died as a result of work-related incidents in 2008-09, with more than 1,600 suffering major injuries.
Just days before standing down from office in December, first minister Rhodri Morgan signed the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)-backed pledge, committing the organisation to do further work on reducing the number of work-related deaths, injuries and ill health.
More than 1.5 million working days were lost in Wales because of workplace injury and work-related ill-health, the HSE has also said.
“The Welsh Assembly Government has responsibility for business, economy and the health service, all of which are adversely impacted by work-related ill health,” said Morgan. “We call on employers to make the investment in good health and safety and better manage workplace risks.”
