The HSE have revealed the health and safety statistics for CA fatally injured construction workers between 2010-2011.
Figures show that the number of workers killed between April 2010 and March 2011 was 50. This is an increase compared to 41 the previous year.
Figures show that the rate of fatal injury has increased to 2.4 per 100,000 workers compared to 1.9 per 100,000 workers in 2009/10. This compares to an average rate of 2.8 for the previous five years.
Philip White, HSE’s Chief Construction Inspector, said
“The construction industry continues to see more deaths than any other industrial sector. We must not lose sight of the fact that 50 construction workers failed to come home last year, and that will have devastated those they left behind.
“The increase in fatalities is extremely disappointing. However, figures for a single year should not be viewed in isolation. Numbers and rates of fatal injuries in construction have seen an overall downward trend in the last five years.
“HSE will continue to work to reduce the number of fatal accidents, however, it is ultimately the responsibility of those who create health and safety risks to control them and to prevent people from being killed and injured.
“The majority of deaths continue to be on small construction sites. Big construction companies have shown steady improvements over the last decade, and we want to see smaller firms take a similar lead. This is not about money, it’s about mindset – planning jobs properly, thinking before you act and taking basic steps to protect yourself and your friends.”
The recent announcement of government spending cuts at the HSE is clearly not going to help to reduce the rising number of CA fatally injured construction workers. The HSE announced that they are planning to cut up to 350 jobs, and that they are dramatically reducing the number of on-site inspections that they currently carry out.
George Guy, UCATT’s acting general secretary, said: “The Conservative-led government’s financial attacks on the HSE will make workplaces more dangerous and will lead to increased deaths and injuries of workers in the future.”
Businesses are already under pressure to cut corners due to the economy, and now with large cut backs at the HSE, the future doesn’t seem bright for the safety of CA construction workers. CAconstruction companies, especially small ones, are really going to need to step up to the rising challenge of keeping the workplace safe for their employees, and help to reduce the rising number of CS construction fatalities.