The HSE has published its Health and Safety Statistics 2011-12 report, bringing together all of the reported incidents over a 12-month period.
In the report, two-thirds of all fatalities can be accounted for by just four types of incident, one of which is falling from height.
Moving objects, structural collapses and vehicle collisions contribute the other three major forms of fatal injury.
In non-fatal injuries, meanwhile, slips, trips and falls from any height account for nearly one in three injuries requiring three or more days off work, and over half of all major injuries reported to the HSE.
Together, these statistics demonstrate the value of edge protection in preventing everything from relatively minor but reportable incidents, to lengthy out-of-work periods and even death.
Overall, 27 million working days were lost in 2011-12, because of workplace injuries and work-related illnesses – a figure that, if reduced in the coming 12 months, could conceivably play a part in helping to get the economy firmly back on track.