cause and to ensure that appropriate  preventive measures are identifi ed  and implemented. The year-on-year improvement in our  safety performance achieved up to 2008  has not been sustained during 2009 and  2010. Having achieved our earlier group  target of a recordable case rate (RCR)*  of 0,50 by June 2008, we committed  ourselves in 2008 to a group target  of less than 0,30 by June 2013. The RCR  for the group in the 2010 fi nancial year  was 0,51 and, although it still compares  favourably with global benchmarks, the  result was only a 5% improvement over  Tragically, eight people (six Sasol  employees and two service providers) died this year as a result of injuries  sustained at Sasol. In addition, there was  one service provider fatality at premises  leased from Sasol by the service provider  and not under the control of Sasol. Fatalities at our facilities are unacceptable  and are avoidable. With this in mind,  each safety incident has been carefully  reviewed to identify the underlying root  * The recordable case rate is a standard international measure for reporting work-related injuries and illnesses and other safety incidents resulting in injury. The RCR is the number  of fatalities, lost workdays, restricted work cases, medical treatments beyond first-aid cases and accepted illnesses for every 200 000 employee hours worked. From 2006  onwards, our RCR includes employees and service providers, and recordable injuries as well as occupational illnesses. Currently, about 11% of the RCR is attributable to illnesses. Our 2010 safety, health and  environmental performance Reaching a plateau in  occupational safety annual review 2010 • operating reviews  •  sasol group services •  safety, health and environment continued 77 Lucas Mngomezulu, production standby, checking for the possible presence of gases in a vessel that requires special safety measures  for confined space entry.