MORE than 240 workers in Dorset received serious job related injuries last year – prompting a health and safety reminder for employers.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is urging businesses to ensure lives are not put at risk and make the safety of workers their top priority for 2014.

New figures show that 248 people suffered a major injury at work across Dorset between 2012 and 2013, and one person from East Dorset lost their life.

This compares to no deaths and 277 major injuries the previous year.

In Weymouth and Portland, there were 28 work-related major injuries last year compared to 25 the previous year, and in West Dorset there were 36 major injuries compared to 38 in the previous year.

North Dorset saw a decrease of work-related injuries at 16 this year, compared to 27 last year, and workers in Purbeck had 18 major injuries this year compared to 16 last year.

Samantha Peace, HSE South West regional director, said: “Over the last year, hundreds of workers in Dorset had their lives changed forever by a major injury and one family had to face Christmas without a loved one.

“Whilst the number of workplace deaths and major injuries has decreased nationally, these statistics highlight why we still need good health and safety in workplaces.

“I urge employers to tackle the real dangers workers face and stop worrying about trivial matters or pointless paperwork.”

High-risk industries across the UK include construction, which had 39 deaths last year; agriculture with 29 deaths; manufacturing with 20 deaths; and waste and recycling with 10 deaths – making up over two-thirds of all workplace deaths in Britain during 2012 to 2013.

Overall, figures show that the number of deaths across Britain fell in the last year, with 148 people killed at work compared to 171 deaths during 2011 and 2012.