CONSTRUCTION DEATHS DOWN IN 2002/03 - BUT WORRYING SIGNS THIS YEAR

HSE press release: E146:03 - 29 July 2003

Seventy-one workers were killed in the construction industry last year (2002/03), the second lowest figure recorded. This is a fall from 80 fatalities in 2001/02 and 105 fatalities in 2000/01. The rate of fatal injuries to workers also fell, with a drop of 9 per cent to 4.0 per 100,000 workers in 2002/03, also the second lowest on record.

Kevin Myers, Chief Inspector for Construction said the number of fatalities in 2002/03 showed that through concerted effort by the industry, it is possible to reduce the rate and number of fatalities of workers.

Mr Myers said: "Every fatality is one too many, most are preventable, each a tragedy for those affected. However it is encouraging to see a further reduction in the number of people killed while at work in the construction industry during 2002/03, compared with previous years. This reduction demonstrates that, despite the hazardous nature of much construction work, it is possible to manage the risks and to reduce the number of fatal injuries to construction workers."

A breakdown of the 71 fatal injuries that occurred in 2002/03 indicates that falls from height remain the single biggest cause of death (47 per cent), followed by struck by an object - other than a vehicle (15 per cent), electricity (10 per cent), transport (seven per cent), collapse (seven per cent) and other kinds (10 per cent). This breakdown of type of injury is consistent with previous years, although there has been a slight rise in the number of electrical accidents.

To understand the overall trends consideration will also need to be given to the major injury and three day injury statistics for 2002/03, which won't be available until later this year.

Mr Myers went on to say: "The breakdown of the fatal injury statistics in 2002/03 indicates that the industry is still struggling to deal with falls from height, the single biggest cause of death in construction. HSE remains committed to working with industry on falls from height and the other main causes of death through initiatives such as 'Don't Fall For It', the national falls from height inspection campaign, taking place once more in September."

"Unfortunately, the reduction of fatalities in 2002/03 has so far, not been carried forward into the current year. There were 27 deaths associated with the construction industry reported to HSE in the first three months of this reporting year, which started in April.

"It is too early in the year to assess whether the recent deaths indicate a reversal of the overall downwards trend in the last three years.

"However the early figures for the current year should act as a warning against complacency and a stark reminder that a sustained effort is required across and down the industry over a long period to drive the necessary cultural change. That was the commitment made by the industry at the Health and Safety Summit in 2001 as part of a 10 year plan. Two years on, we should not take our eye off the ball because we have identified what needs to be done - continued effort is required within this fragmented industry to make it happen".

Notes to editors

1. The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) today publishes the latest detailed statistics on fatal injuries in HSE and local authority (LA) enforced sectors in 2002/03 - Statistics of Fatal Injuries 2002/2003.

2. The reporting of health and safety incidents at work is a statutory requirement, set out under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR). A reportable incident includes: a death or major injury; any accident which does not result in major injury, but the injured person still has to take three or more days off their normal work to recover; a work-related disease; a member of the public being injured as a result of work-related activity and taken to hospital for treatment; or a dangerous occurrence (which does not result in a serious injury, but could have done).

3. The figures show that the total number of fatally injured workers in Great Britain fell by 10% to 226 in 2002/03 from 251 in 2001/02. The rate of fatal injury also fell by 10% in 2002/03 to 0.79 per hundred thousand workers: the corresponding figure for 2001/02 is 0.88. The number and rate of worker fatal injury rose by around 30% in 2000/01 and then fell by 23% in the next two years to 2002/03. The rate of fatal injury is now at the same level as three years ago, and is around a third of that recorded in 1981.

4. In 2002/03, 107 (47%) of worker fatalities occurred in the two industries of construction (71) and agriculture (36).

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