THOUSANDS of organisations from all over the West Midlands took part in a workplace safety event recently.

The European Week for Safety and Health, organised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), this year focussed on workplace accident prevention.

Provisional statistics for 2000/2001 indicate an increase of 34 per cent in fatalities among British workers, with 295 deaths compared to 220 the previous year.

There were 11 fatalities in the West Midlands last year, with one work related death in Herefordshire and one death in Worcestershire.

"This initiative is a good opportunity for organisations to put health and safety where it should be all year round - at the top of their agenda," said the HSE's regional director for the Midlands, Linda Williams.

She said demand for workplace accident prevention campaign packs, issued by HSE, had topped a record-breaking 100,000 requests nationally.

"Businesses of every size and from every sector have planned extensive campaigns designed to make the workplace a safer environment," said Ms Williams.

Also taking part were councils, schools, hospitals, airports and trade unions.