by Phil Pitt

Medway and Swale are the most dangerous places to work in the South East, according to new figures released today.

In the past year two people died in Medway and another 130 suffered major injuries as a result of accidents at work. In Swale, there was one death and 71 major injuries

"The local authority areas with the highest number of major and fatal injuries in the South East are Swale, Medway as well as Gosport in Hampshire," said Heather Bryant, regional director for the Health and Safety Executive in the South East.

"The three areas with the highest numbers of injuries which kept workers off work for three days or more are Swale, Dover and Crawley in West Sussex," added Mrs Bryant.

In Swale 247 people have had to take three days or more off work after being hurt at work, and in Dover the number was 185. Despite being the highest proportion in the South East, the figures in both districts are down from last year.

Across the South East there was a fall in the number of workplace deaths last year, down to 15 from 23. Overall the figures fell across the country, down to 180 from 233.

The number of people blaming work for making them ill is higher than the national average in Kent and the rest of the South East, with some 4,640 people per 100,000 believing they have a workplace illness.