HC Deb 10 May 1923 vol 163 cc2589-90W
Mr. TILLETT

asked the Home Secretary the comparative number of accidents occurring in docks during the past year as compared with the two previous years; and whether the number and comparison of accidents, fatal and general, are greater in industrial, mining and railway occupations?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

The number of accidents reported under the Factory Act as occurring in docks during the last three years is:

In 1920 7,085
In 1921 4,959
In 1922 5,912
These figures include certain warehouses, but otherwise are limited to accidents in the processes of loading, unloading and coaling. For the purpose of comparison with factory, mining and railway occupations, the only statistics of employment available are those compiled from the returns rendered under the Workmen's Compensation Act. On the basis of these statistics, the accident rate for docks is much higher than that for all factory industries taken together, and probably approximates to that of the most dangerous factory work. It is also higher than that for railways, but exceeded by that for mines.