HAMPSHIRE is ranked second in the regional league of shame when it comes to workplace accidents, it emerged today.

In the south-east, Hampshire and Kent had the highest number of deaths, along with incidents that have kept people off work for more than three days.

Hampshire and Kent accounted for 18 of the 31 fatalities at work reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) last year.

Figures for 2003/04, which have yet to be finalised, show a rise in the number of reported workplace injuries, which could reflect improved reporting, and a decline in new cases of work-related ill health. In Hampshire there were seven deaths, with 11 in Kent. The third highest was Surrey, with four. Across the UK there were 235.

In Hampshire 4,054 incidents were logged, with 811 of them involving serious injury, such as broken bones, amputations and dislocations.

There were also 3,010 incidents in which victims took more than three days off work.

By comparison, Kent topped the list with 4,317 incidents, while Buckinghamshire had the fewest of the counties with 1,766.

The most significant improvements have occurred in areas where health and safety inspection, enforcement, advice and partnership working have been most evident.

Bill Callaghan, the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission, said: "I believe that sensible health and safety is a cornerstone of a civilised society and, therefore, we must continue to attack these unacceptably high levels of occupational injuries and ill health."

The south-east consists of Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire, Sussex, Kent and Buckinghamshire.

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