Three people died and nearly 400 were seriously injured in the workplace in the last year.

The number of major injuries recorded in Sussex dropped from 486 in 2011/12 to 390 in 2012/13.

But the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which release the figures, urged businesses to they took steps to ensure employees’ lives are not at risk.

Mike Wilcock, HSE’s head of operations for the South East, said: “The families of those workers who lost their lives last year had to face Christmas without them, and hundreds of other workers have had their lives changed forever by a major injury.

“While the number of workplace deaths has decreased nationally, they have increased across the South East counties, and it serves as a stark reminder of why we need good health and safety in workplaces.

“I therefore urge employers to spend their time tackling the real dangers that workers face, and to stop worrying about trivial matters or pointless paperwork.

“It’s important to remember that while we still have one of the lowest rates of workplace deaths in Europe, one death is still one too many. I would urge businesses to focus on helping to cut the number of deaths in 2014.”

Brighton and Hove and Crawley were the two areas with the highest risk of serious injury with 68 and 62 respectively.

Among those who died in 2012/12 was Daniel Haffenden, 43, who was crushed by a coach while changing a tyre in Eastbourne in July 2012.

Lindsay Campbell, 66, died after falling 30 feet while working at a skip hire and waste disposal firm near Arundel in July 2012.

Construction worker Barry Lock, 52, died after falling from a roof in Wealden on February 2012.

There have already been three work-related deaths in 2013/14.

Michael Miles, 62, of Lancing, who worked for Gate Gourmet at Gatwick Airport died following a fall on May 14.

Road traffic worker Anthony Saunders, 49, of Fairfax, Henfield, died after being struck by a car on the A24 near Horsham.

Daniel Yeowell, 26, of Gillingham, Kent, was killed after being struck in the face by a manhole cover at Langley Green Primary School in Crawley in October 2013.