THREE people were killed at work in Liverpool last year and 1,220 were injured, according to new figures.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) hopes the stark findings will urge employers across the region to ensure their workers are kept safe in 2010.

In Merseyside, a total of 3,071 people were injured at work from May, 2008, to April, 2009, including 581 seriously.

An estimated 3.5m working days were lost across the North-West, which is why the HSE says it makes economic sense to make working environments safe.

The Liverpool men killed were construction workers John McCleary and Kenneth Thornton, who both fell from roofs in June and July, 2008, respectively, and Patrick Choy, who was crushed between a machine and a diesel tank in September last year.

The inquest into his death at a Tarmac factory, in Newton Road, Fairfield, recorded a verdict of accidental death.

David Sowerby, HSE’s regional director for the North-West, said: “Behind these statistics are the real-life stories of thousands of workers suffering injuries and ill health.

“Together with their families, they have to deal with real hardship, pain and suffering. The New Year is an opportune time to reflect on the number of incidents in the past 12 months and to take positive action to improve conditions in workplaces.

“The main causes of fatal incidents nationally remain falls from height and from workplace transport, with the highest numbers being found in the construction and agriculture sectors.

“For other injuries, slips and trips and incidents affecting the back and upper limbs are the most common cause.

“Most of these injuries are entirely preventable.

“We implore businesses to take practical action to manage the risks people face in their day-to-day work.”