Workplace deaths and serious injuries in the UK service sector have risen in the past five years. This comes at a time when the figures are at last starting to drop in traditionally high risk areas, such as construction.

The latest annual statistical report from the Health and Safety Commission shows that serious injuries were particularly high in sectors such as catering, transport, and business and finance, which has seen a doubling in the rate of major injuries in the past eight years. Deaths and serious injuries in this sector were up by 18%—from 15 218 in 1999-2000 to 19 697 in 2004-5 (79.7 per 100 000 …