Hope for those striving for health and safety

The construction industry didn't kill as many people in 2000/2001 as some sections of the media were predicting. In the year to 31 March 2001, 114 people died in accidents on UK construction sites. This is a 5% improvement on the calendar year 2000 figure, when 120 people were killed. While this is of little consolation for the bereaved, it might offer a glimmer of hope for those striving to improve health and safety in this dangerous profession.

The year 2000 was a terrible year for construction-related deaths. But construction was not alone. All the industries that the Health & Safety Executive measures - agriculture, construction, extractive and utility supply, manufacturing and services - suffered an increase in fatalities. Unless we all suddenly and simultaneously became dangerously complacent in 2000, this is so hard to explain that it might just have been a statistical blip. Indeed most other indicators are pointing down.

Non-fatal major injuries in construction in 2000/2001 declined by 3.2% to 383 per 100,000 workers. And 'over-three-day' injuries fell by 8% to below 900 per 100,000. These are not numbers to be proud of, but they are worth noting.

The year 2001 began with the government's safety summit, at which all members of the construction supply chain pledged to improve their health and safety practices. The true measure of the industry's commitment to that promise will be the 2001/2002 figures. Any number less than 80 deaths would have the industry back on track.

There is one other observation worth making. There were 6.4 deaths per 100,000 employed construction workers, compared with just 5.3 deaths per 100,000 self-employed construction workers. Where does that leave the unions' argument that increased direct employment would lead to an improvement in health and safety?