The number of fatal industrial accidents in the workplace across the south-east has dropped but the figure is still too high, says the Health and Safety Executive.

Provisional figures released today for 1997/98 show that 45 people, mostly employees, were killed in the 12 months to April, compared with 51 the previous year.

In Britain as a whole, there were 315 industrial deaths last year compared to 358 the year before. The total number of workplace injuries in the south-east fell to 20,000 last year from 22,700 in 1996/97.

The area with the highest number of accidents involving employees was the borough of Westminster, with 678. Wakefield and East Sussex had the least with one accident each.

Bill Sutton, regional head of operations for the Health and Safety Executive, said: "The decrease in industrial deaths is welcomed, but much can still be done to improve workplace health and safety across south-east England.

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