LAST year, 173 people were killed and 111,000 injured in the UK workplace. Just one death is far too many, so these numbers remain concerning.

In February 2012, a worker died after an accident with a forklift truck at a Banbury builders’ merchant – it’s accidents like these we need to work hard to prevent.

In times of austerity, when staffing levels can be squeezed and workloads increase, it’s therefore more vital than ever that worker protection remains a high priority.

Not also does good health and safety save lives, it can also play an important part in driving efficiencies, reducing lost work days and sustaining a thriving business.

Employers and employees need to think carefully when it comes to health and safety, so too does our own Government. Ministers are currently reviewing health and safety legislation, in a drive to cut what they call ‘red tape’.

Part of the Government cuts could see the abolition of the Management Approved Code of Practice – a code many organisations rely on to manage risk and prevent accidents and fatalities.

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) is calling for people to save the code and has set up e-petition 46262, urging the Government to improve and retain what already exists.

Last Sunday marked International Workers’ Memorial Day. It gave us a chance to reflect on workers who have been killed while at work, their families, work colleagues and the emergency services who have to deal with these situations.

Help us to continue to combat workplace accidents and sign the IOSH e-petition by visiting the direct.gov website now.

Take this opportunity to reflect on what we do at work, how we do our work, and how can we make it safer.

STEPHEN PULLING Chairman of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health Thames Valley Branch