The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has raised concerns that the number of fatalities in food and drink processing may be creeping up.

Richard Morgan, head of food in the HSE’s agriculture and food sector, said: “We have had three fatalities in the first quarter of this year, which starts in April, so we’re worried that we will have more than the normal amount.”

In the past decade, food and drink processors have led the manufacturing sector in preventing industrial fatalities, clocking up just 33, an average of three a year according to HSE statistics. That compares with 26 fatal injuries to agricultural workers in 2007-2008 and 32 fatal injuries to general manufacturing workers in the same period according to HSE data published in this month (June).

The vast majority of deaths involved workers entering live machinery and triggering its activation or being crushed by moving vehicles, such as forklifts or reversing trucks, said Morgan. “That’s why we have launched a big push to make sure machines are isolated, that people have [activation] keys in their pockets and that there are proper safety procedures.”