I would think unless you can get into one of the higher risk industry (oil/gas & nuclear + and engineering /science qualification) sectors, 'normal industry' just pays 'normal' salaries regardless of which sector you work in.

Take a look at the IOSH salary survey.

I would look at an industrial sector that specifically interests you, maybe has an element of work not required in some sectors.

Forget about the public sector. The government's ideological quest to destroy public services (which started with the privatisation of schools via the introduction of academies, free schools etc) continues unabated. I work for a local authority, taking this route because I wanted diversity in my work. I certainly have that, and love many aspects of the job, including the variety and the quality of the people with whom I work. However, the rate at which every aspect of local authorities is being contracted out to the private sector is staggering. Perhaps this where the million new private sector jobs have come from, whilst job availability seems critically low - they used to be public sector jobs?. Private sector all the way. In my area, manufacturing seems to be the most promising in terms of health and safety jobs (what few there are)