Construction deaths: Hain announces summit date

Peter Hain, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, has announced the date of the safety forum on construction fatalities as 17 September.

The forum was arranged following a 28% rise in construction deaths last year from 60 to 77 according to figures from the Health and Safety Executive.

Hain said: "The jump in construction site fatalities is as disturbing as it is unacceptable and we must get to the bottom of why this is happening.

"I have now obtained the agreement of all the major construction employers' organisations, the Health and Safety Commission and the main trade unions to meet in a forum.

"I am asking them all to work together with me to identify the reason for the rise in deaths and to hammer out together an urgent action plan to reverse it."