GLASGOW is the most dangerous place to work in the UK, it has been revealed, with 39 deaths due to workplace accidents in the past ten years occurring in the city.
A study by Alfa Industrial Services, using official data from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website, found that Scottish councils make up five of the UK top 10 for workplace deaths.
With Glasgow topping the list, Aberdeenshire came in second place with 33 deaths, and Highland is in third with 29 workplace fatalities.
Aberdeen City is at number seven with 20 workplace deaths, while Fife is the ninth most dangerous with 18.
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A spokesperson for Alfa said: “A long and proud industrial history has been the cornerstone of Glasgow's economy, which has relied heavily on manual labour, particularly in the manufacturing and construction sectors.
“The result has been a large number of manual workers who often work in hazardous and dangerous conditions. Due to this, Glasgow has seen a high number of workplace fatalities over the years.
Similarly, Aberdeenshire which ranks at number 2, has the second highest amount of deaths at work, perhaps due to the fact that it is an important hub for transport by road, rail, sea and air.
“The county is home to a large number of oil, gas and engineering firms. These industries are high-risk and involve a lot of manual labour, which leads to a greater likelihood of accidents and deaths," the spokesperson added.
“Finally, The Highlands are also home to numerous industries that can put workers at risk, such as forestry and fishing. These industries again rely heavily on manual labour, which can be dangerous and put workers in harm’s way.
Farming was the industry most affected by workplace deaths according to the study, followed by hospital activities and construction. The vast majority of deaths were related to falling from a height.
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