Fatalities at work

A South Yorkshire lawyer specialising in accidents and fatalities at work has welcomed a decision that forces the body responsible for investigating serious risks to health or safety arising out of work activities, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), to publish the names of those who have died in work related incidents.

The decision was made by the Information Commissioner (IC) following an appeal by the Centre for Corporate Accountability in 2006 when the HSE refused to provide information.

The names of those who have died at work must now be made available to the Centre once the opening of the coroner's inquest has taken place.

David Urpeth, head of works accidents at law firm Irwin Mitchell said: "These changes will allow greater access to the causes of work-related deaths and will allow the families of the deceased, and their solicitors, the ability to track how those fatalities are dealt with by the investigation prosecution bodies.

"It is important that members of the public are informed about how people die at work and that lessons can be learnt on how similar incidents can be prevented going forward.

"I hope that this ruling paves the way for improvements of health and safety in the workplace and reduces the number of tragic deaths which could and should have been avoided."