HC Deb 09 November 1989 vol 159 cc761-2W
Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many people have been(a) killed and (b) injured in electrical accidents in each year since 1978–79, distinguishing between domestic and other users and electricity industry staff.

Coal Imports
Thousand tonnes
Country of origin1 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 Total 1979–88
Australia 2,164 2,847 1,791 1,143 1,987 1,859 5,456 3,822 3,459 3,536 28,064
United States of America 1,031 3,653 1,954 2,053 1,142 3,344 3,145 3,560 2,890 4,261 27,033
Poland 658 446 142 320 509 1,359 1,418 1,217 1,083 1,270 8,422
Federal Republic of Germany 229 80 132 334 482 959 746 439 256 182 3,839
South Africa 38 66 80 67 58 257 725 312 188 276 2,067
1 This list shows the five principal exporting sources over the whole of the 10-year period requested. For 1988 the principal exporters to this country were:

Mr. Wakeham

The following figures are applicable:

Domestic fatalities1 Electric shock2
1978 52 n/a
1979 59 64
1980 58 82
1981 54 102
1982 66 88
1983 42 99
1984 31 72
1985 40 108
1986 40 89
1987 46 79
1988 28 n/a
1 Domestic fatalities reported by the electricity boards.
2 Electric shock injuries reported to Department of Trade and Industry by 20 hospitals strategically situated.

Fatalities and Injuries to Electricity Board Employees:
Fatalities Major injuries Over three day injuries
1978 n/a n/a n/a
1979 n/a n/a n/a
1980 n/a n/a n/a
1981 1 11 61
1982 2 12 64
1983 1 15 n/a
1984 3 10 n/a
1985 nil 7 n/a
1986–87 3 53 63
1987–88 5 41 56
Fatalities and injuries to employees involved in contact with electricity in all industries
Fatalities Major injuries Over three day injuries
1978 n/a n/a n/a
1979 n/a n/a n/a
1980 n/a n/a n/a
1981 13 92 557
1982 23 126 565
1983 18 136 n/a
1984 19 151 n/a
1985 12 148 n/a
1986–87 23 328 532
1987–88 20 308 552

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