Aug 1 2007
Construction union UCATT are demanding that Britain takes a lesson from their Irish counterparts when it comes to construction safety.
Shocking figures released today by the Health and Safety Executive reveal that 77 workers died on construction sites in 2006/7 a massive 31 per cent leap on the previous year. Construction deaths account for a staggering 31 per cent of all deaths at work.
The majority of deaths were caused by falls from heights. The report reveals that the house-building sector and small construction companies have deplorable safety records. These sectors are the least unionised parts of the industry.
The rise in deaths comes at a time when the HSE is cutting the number of inspectors and reducing the number of inspections. HSE policy approach is in future to rely less in future on physical inspections and more on advice and support for employers.
Alan Ritchie general secretary of UCATT: “The latest figures are truly gut wrenching. Last year far too many families experienced the tragedy of a loved one going to work and never returning home.
“The blame for many of these deaths needs to be placed both at the doors of bad bosses who will cut any corner, including the safety of workers to make ever larger profits. Equally the HSE has quite clearly failed in its duties to protect construction workers, their policy approach has failed and the senior management of the HSE should consider their positions.”The British experience is in stark contracts to policies and outcomes in the Republic of Ireland. The number of safety inspections in 2006 increased by 13 per cent while the number of construction deaths decreased by nearly 50 per cent from 25 to 13.
Alan Ritchie, added; “It is not rocket science to realise that if you implement a rigorous inspection and enforcement regime, sites will become safer and bosses will be forced to accept their safety responsibilities. If you sit back and do little or nothing deaths will increase.”
The appalling record of the construction industry and the HSE has been recognised by Peter Hain the Secretary of State at the Department of Work and Pensions. Mr Hain who has responsibility for the HSE announced yesterday (July 25) in advance of the new figures being officially reported, that he is organising a major safety forum for September where unions, contractors, clients and the HSE will be brought together to discuss how deaths can be reduced in the construction industry.
It is understood the Mr Hain is particularly concerned about the poor safety performance of the house-building sector, especially in the light of the Government’s new commitment to dramatically increase the number of affordable homes being built.