The number of reported major injuries to employees in the hotel and catering sector fell in 2006/7, the first annual decrease since 2001/2, official figures have revealed.

There were 1,069 major injuries in the industry in 2006/7 – a 9% fall on the 1,176 reported in 2005/6, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said. This has reversed the increasing trend since 2001/02.

More than half (52%) of major injuries to employees in hotels and catering were as a result of slips or trips, while handling, lifting or carrying accounted for 15%

The HSE also revealed that there were four fatalities to workers in the hotel and catering sectors in 2006/07, compared with three fatalities in 2004/05 and 2005/06.

Earlier this year, the HSE released statistics which showed that slips, trips and falls in the hospitality industry cost society £31m last year.

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By Daniel Thomas

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