Construction fatality figures show no improvement

There were 39 construction related fatalities in the six months to 30 September 2002 - exactly the same number as in the same period last year - according to the Health & Safety Executive.

But the make-up of the latest figures was significantly different. Employees accounted for 33 fatalities, compared with 23 for the previous year, while only 3 self-employed construction workers were killed, compared with 12 in 2001.

Three members of the public were killed by the construction industry in the period, compared with four in the previous year.

The provisiobal full-year fatality figure for 2001/2002 was 85 deaths.