Construction kills 72 people in 12 months

The construction industry killed 72 people in the 12 months to 31 March 2004, according to the latest statistics from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).
The provisional figure, obtained by CJ on Monday, includes four members of the public who also lost their lives
A breakdown of the fatalities shows that falls from height remain the single biggest cause of deaths: 38 people lost their lives by falling from roofs, ladders, scaffolds and raised platforms. Last year, the confirmed total was 34.
Being struck by a moving vehicle accounted for 13 lives; trapped by something collapsing or overturning led to seven deaths; and another seven were fatally electrocuted. Four lives were lost after workers were hit by a moving object or falling object, while there were three 'other' fatalities.
However, an HSE spokeswoman made it clear that the figures are subject to confirmation.
"The statistics are subject to change through quality control," she said. "There were some suicides and some road traffic-related fatalities, while we may gain some from the railway sector or lose some to other industries."
Last year, confirmed figures showed that 71 construction workers and five members of the public were killed in the construction industry - the second lowest total ever recorded.
In 2001/02, there were 85 fatalities and the year before that construction deaths totalled 113.