Government needs to act now to save construction lives, say unions

A dramatic rise in deaths in the construction industry must shame the government into reversing policies of cutting safety inspectors and inspections, according to unions UCATT, PCS and Prospect today.

The unions state that 74 people have died on building sites already this year, an increase of 14% on last year’s figures. Fears  are that the figures will rise further before the end of the recording year on 31 March.

Alan Ritchie, general secretary of UCATT, said: “One death on a building site is one death too many. The lives of building workers cannot be reduced to a financial cost. The government must reverse these cuts and put extra resources into ensuring that this inherently dangerous industry is made safer.”

 The unions point out that the increase in fatalities has occurred alongside massive cutbacks at the Health & Safety Executive (HSE); the department plans to cut 283 jobs by 2008.

They add that research shows that workplaces only receive an HSE inspection once every 13 years. Further job losses are expected to further reduce the number of workplace inspections undertaken.

Prospect negotiator Mike MacDonald said: “The government’s refusal to back the call for proper resources for inspection and accident investigation ignores the stack of evidence that enforcing the law is the most effective motivator for business to improve health and safety standards.”

Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: “The HSE does a vital job in protecting the UK workforce from cowboy employers and careless practices. Cutting jobs and resources leads to fewer inspections which in turn results in tragic consequences.

“PCS members recognise the damage that cuts can do in the HSE and elsewhere in the civil service which is why they took part in January’s civil service wide strike as they campaign for jobs and services.”