The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) found that major injuries have dropped by to 1,047 since the 2004/05 year. During the period the overall incident rate fell by about 17 per cent to 1,450 per 100,000 employees.

The FDF claims its statistics are in line with those recorded by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The government body found that since 1990/1991 the total injury rate in the sector dropped by 37 per cent and major injury rate by 24 per cent.

Julian Hunt, FDF's director of communications, said the FDF's ongoing work with the HSE to reduce injuries is starting to take effect.

A joint FDF and HSE programme began in the early 1990s. The programme has resulted in the identification of a range of health and safety issues needed to further reduce the main causes of injury and occupational ill health.

The programme sets benchmarks for performance, and suggests how issues can be tackled.

Richard Morgan, manager of HSE's food section said that by 2005/06 fatal injuries per year in the industry have more than halved.

Tthe total number of injuries has dropped by 50 per cent and all-injury incidence rates in major food sectors have dropped significantly over a decade.

For example, injuries in dairies have dropped by 22 per cent, bakeries by 48 per cent, and meat and poultry processing by 67 per cent.