SCOTLAND had an “unacceptable” 70 per cent increase in the number of deaths at work last year, figures show.

The latest statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reveal that 29 people suffered a fatal injury at work in 2018-19 — up from 17 the previous year.

Workplace deaths in Scotland made up around a fifth of the 147 fatalities across Britain last year.

HSE chairman Martin Temple said that the number of deaths in some industries are “worryingly high.”

He said: “Agriculture, forestry and fishing accounts for a small fraction of the workforce of Great Britain, yet accounted for over 20 per cent of worker fatalities in the last year.

“This is unacceptable and more must be done to prevent such fatalities taking place.

“Whatever the sector, we should remember that any change in numbers provides little comfort to the family, friends and colleagues of the 147 whose lives were cut short this year while doing their job.”

Scottish Hazards, an occupational health and safety charity, raised concern about the “significant increase” in deaths north of the border.

A spokesman said: “We have to remind everyone this does not include deaths at work investigated by other regulators, those killed in road traffic incidents occurring in the course of their work, those who are so pushed to the depths of despair by work they take their own lives, and thousands who lose their lives every year as a result of occupational diseases and cancers such as mesothelioma.

“It is unacceptable that more and more families are facing the knock on the door that no-one ever expects — the police to say their loved one will not be returning from work.”