Construction deaths still "too high"

A provisional total of 69 construction fatalities for 2007/08 is still too high, construction union UCATT has warned today.

The figure, released by the Health and Safety Executive yesterday, is 10% lower than last year's five-year high of 77. But the union pointed out that it was still 15% higher than the 60 deaths in the industry in 2005/06.

It called for a 'root and branch review' of health and safety on construction sites in order to bring the figure lower, which would see:

• a strategic rethink of the role of the HSE;
• a reduction of casualisation in the industry;
• and the implementation of directors' duties.

UCATT general secretary Alan Ritchie said: "Although the death toll for construction has dropped slightly, these figures remain appalling, practically six building workers are killed every month. Construction has inherent dangers but this level of fatalities cannot be tolerated."

But although the HSE noted the improvement in fatality figures, HSE chief inspector of construction Stephen Williams was in no mood to celebrate and cautioned against complacency:

"It is totally unacceptable that, once again, a significant number of lives have been lost and continue to be put at risk on construction sites. HSE will continue to take firm action against those who ignore safety precautions."

The unvalidated figures come almost a year after the HSE announced that it would concentrate its attention on two problem sectors - housebuilding and refurbishment.

A series of spot checks earlier this year saw HSE inspectors close a third of the 1,000 refurbishment sites earlier it visited.