The number of people killed, injured or hit by work-related ill-health has fallen significantly over the past year, official figures showed today.

The Health and Safety Executive said workplace fatalities in Britain fell from 233 in 2007/8 to a record low of 180, while the number of serious injuries was cut by more than 7,000.

Just over 29m days were lost to injury and ill-health last year, down from 33.9m the previous 12 months.

Britain was one of the safest countries in the EU to work, said the commission.

HSE chairman Judith Hackitt said the figures were “really encouraging”, adding: “Protecting people from harm caused by work remains important irrespective of the economic climate.

“Having shown that Great Britain can achieve a performance that compares favourably with other industrialised nations as we entered the global recession, the challenge now is to maintain that improvement as we move towards recovery and increased activity in some economic sectors.

“In spite of the encouraging overall statistics today let’s not forget that they tell also a story of individuals and families who have suffered. This underlines the real risks that people can face at work every day.”

HSE said it continued to take a tough line with firms which put workers at risk by breaking safety legislation, bringing 1,231 offences to court in 2008/9, and issuing 8,054 enforcement notices.

A British Safety Council spokesman said: “The downward trend will be of little consolation to the relatives and friends of the 180 people killed at work last year. Accident rates in the construction industry account for the largest number of fatal injuries each year compared to other main industry groups.

“Although training and education will stop people being killed and avoid injury, creating a safer working environment for colleagues needs everyone’s commitment. The human balance sheet should be part and parcel of a company’s financial success.”