There has been a significant drop in the number of employees killed or seriously injured at work in the past year, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has found.

Figures published by the HSE show an 11% drop in major injuries compared to 2011/12. The number of people killed at work fell to 148 in 2012/13 compared to 171 the previous year.

The study found 19,707 major injuries – such as amputations, fractures and burns – to employees were reported in 2012/13 compared with 22,094 in 2011/12. This is the lowest amount of work-related injuries since records began in 1995.

HSE chair Judith Hackitt said the decline in injuries show Britain’s workplaces are committed to improving safety for their employees, but more can still be done.

“We are still seeing too many deaths and injuries occur in the work place many of which could have been prevented through simple safety measures. Getting this right is the key to ensuring that everyone can make it home safely at the end of their working day,” Hackitt said.