Construction fatalities fall 26% in 2008/09

The number of workers killed in construction in 2008/09 has fallen dramatically on the previous year, new figures released today show.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said that provisional figures showed 53 workers were killed in the past year - a fall of 26% on 2007/08 when 72 workers died.

Four members of the public were also killed by construction-related activity in 2008/09.

But the rate of fatal injuries in the sector was 2.4 per 100,000, which still makes construction one of the most dangerous industries in which to work.

However the rate was still lower than the average rate over the past five years of 3.4 per 100,0000.

In each of the last five years, the number of fatal injuries has been:

• 2007/08 – 72 workers died
• 2006/07 – 79 workers died
• 2005/06 – 60 workers died
• 2004/05 – 69 workers died
• 2003/04 – 71 workers died

HSE chief inspector of construction Philip White said: "We very much welcome any reduction in the number of construction workers being fatally injured. But the fact that 53 construction workers failed to come home from their jobs last year because of avoidable safety failings is a terrible tragedy, not a cause for celebration.

"We all owe it to the workers who have lost their lives to continue to take an uncompromising approach to workplace safety.

"It is too soon to say that this is part of an acceleration of the long-term downward trend or to pin point any single reason why the number of fatalities has fallen.

"Clearly we are in the midst of a recession, but it would be too simple to just chalk the fall up to current challenging trading conditions facing the industry. We know from evidence of past downturns that when the period of economic recovery comes it generally sees an increase in the rate and number of workers losing their lives.

"I don't want to be talking in 12 months time about a tragic rise in the number of people who have been killed simply doing their job."