Fatal injuries to workers in construction this year stand at 72, according to figures from the Health and Safety Executive. This compares to 71 for 2003/4. However, the HSE points out that due to the numbers in employment in the sector, the fatal injury rate has fallen by 3% to 3.48 per 100,000 workers, the lowest level on record.

Rosi Edwards, acting chief inspector for construction says: ‘We can take some encouragement from the continuing decrease in the rate of fatalities, but the fact remains that 72 workers were killed in incidents, most of which could have been prevented with sensible risk control.

Falls from height was the most common cause of fatal injury, accounting for 28 of the 72 deaths. After that, being struck by a falling/moving object, being struck by a moving vehicle and contact with electricity were the most common causes of fatalities.

Source

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