Construction deaths rise by 28%

Latest fatal-injury statistics released by the Health and Safety Executive reveal that the number of deaths in the construction industry has risen by an alarming 28% since last year. This equates to 3.7 per 100 000 construction workers.

This year, 77 people in the construction trade died from work-related injuries, compared with 59 in 2005/06, or three per 100 000 workers. The latest figures curb the downward trend in fatalities over the past 15 years – on average a 3.9% year-on-year decrease.

Deaths in the workplace overall have risen by 11% , from 217 to 241. Of the main industrial sectors, construction has the highest total of fatal injuries and accounts for 31% of all fatalities.

Peter Hain, secretary of state for Work and Pensions, has announced a new safety forum that will aim to reduce deaths in the housebuilding and refurbishment sectors, which have seen sharp rises. The forum will take place on 17 September.

HSE chief executive Geoffrey Podger said: “Those who are putting the lives of their workforce at risk should know that HSE takes this very seriously. In the past year we have approved 25% more prosecutions than the year before, and our inspectors have served 1000 more enforcement notices.”

Health and Safety Commissioner Danny Carrigan voiced concerns about the continued high level of construction worker fatalities on smaller sites and involving small businesses.

He said: “I know that HSE keeps a close eye on fatal accident trends and that its Construction Division is already focusing in on the key issues.

“I am particularly pleased to see that HSE is pressing hard for all workers to be fully engaged in health and safety decisions.

“I challenge all in the construction industry to refocus their efforts and work together with HSE to tackle the unacceptable level of fatalities in the construction industry.”

ECA health and safety advisor Paul Reeve commented: “These figures are very sobering indeed. It’s a reality check, and it just shows that we can’t take for granted what we achieved with the ZAP [Zero Accident Potential] initiative.”