Construction deaths down by 10%, preliminary figures show

The number of fatalities in the construction sector in 2007/08 is thought to have fallen to around 70 according to early figures compiled by the Health and Safety Executive.

If the figures are verified when the HSE's official statistics are released in July, it would mark a significant 10% drop on 2006/07 when 77 deaths were recorded - the highest for five years.

But it would still be much higher than the 60 deaths registered in 2005/06.

An HSE spokeswoman confirmed that chief inspector of construction Stephen Williams had revealed the fall at a Construction Industry Advisory Committee (CONIAC) meeting last week.

"Early returns are indicating that the number is down on last year by about 10%," she said.

It is too early to tell at this stage if improvements in any particular area of construction accounted for the drop but the HSE announced last year that it was targeting the refurbishment and housebuilding sectors.

Construction accident data is collected up until 31 March each year.

In a separate development yesterday, it was revealed that the HSE and HSC are set to merge.