Deaths and fatalities in construction: what you really need to know

Too many people still die in the UK construction industry, but the sector is making some progress in driving down fatalities.

There are 2.2 million people working in the sector, and in the last 25 years, over 2,800 people have died from injuries they received as a result of construction work.

Latest results from the Health and Safety Commission for 2005/06 show that the rate of reported fatal injuries (to all workers, including the self employed) in construction between 1999/00 and 2005/06 has fallen by about 36%.

Construction deaths - the statistics

According to the Health and Safety Executive, there were 59 fatal injuries to workers in construction in 2005/06, a decrease on the previous year of 69 fatalities. Of these 59 fatalities:

• 42 were employees and 17 were self-employed, compared to 55 employees and 14 self-employed in 2004/05.
• 24 deaths (41%) were due to falls from a height and eight (14%) were due to being hit by a moving vehicle.

In 2005/06, 28% of all worker deaths were in the construction industry. However, the rate of fatal injury to workers in construction fell to 3.0 per hundred thousand workers, the lowest rate on record. The HSE publishes statistics online. The target is zero, and the construction industry is working hard to reach this.

What happens when a fatality occurs

Where a fatality occurs on site, the HSE will conduct an investigation, which will follow a set procedure - the Work Related Deaths Investigation. This sets out the role of the HSE, the police, the Crown Prosecution Service, as well as how the HSE will liaise with the coroner and the bereaved.

The HSE, Crown Prosecution Service and police have also drawn up a protocal for liaison, which they should follow in the case of a work-related death.

The investigation should follow a strict order - a chronology - that sets out what happens and when.

A Coroner will also be involved, and the Coroner's role in a case is well defined.

Find the latest information on construction fatalities

April 2007: BBC video report "Site death convictions down"

Search contractjournal.com for any information on construction-related deaths.

Read the editor's comments on construction fatalities. 

Find out more from Health and safety in construction: what you really need to know

Helpful advice

The HSE produces a range of publications and advice to help reduce fatalities in construction:

HSE list of priorities to help reduce accidents in the construction industry 

In-depth report and analysis of trends in construction accidents, compiled by the HSE

Look up Health and Safety prosecutions in construction on the HSE website.

Latest information on "live" issues from the HSE

Advice on managing health and safety in construction

Information on risk management in construction

General advice for the construction industry available from the HSE 

Information on safe workplace transport

Advice on dealing with electricity in construction

Other useful links

Crown Prosecution Service information on work-related deaths.

Information on the Centre for Corporate Accountability.

TUC information on construction-related workplace deaths.

UCATT information on work-related deaths

Article from lawyers Pinsent Mason on changes to corporate manslaughter legislation.

Transport and General Worker's Union information on corporate manslaughter.