There has been no improvement in the figure for deaths on site according to the latest Health and Safety Executive figures.


There were 70 deaths in the construction industry last year, according to figures released by the Health and Safety Executive this morning. The figure is the same as in 2002/03 and suggests that the construction industry is likely to fall well short of safety targets set at a safety summit in 2001.

The target stipulated in the 2001 Revitalising Health and Safety initiative was to reduce fatilities and major injuries by 40% by 2004/2005. To date there has only been a 5% reduction in the number of fatal injuries. The 2001 summit also set a target for a 66% reduction in site deaths by 2010.

The rate of fatal injury to workers fell from 3.8 to 3.5 per 100,000 workers in 2003/2004, which the HSE says reflects an increase in the number of workers and represents the lowest level on record.

In response to the lack of improvement in the figures another safety summit will be held in February 2005 to review the targets set in 2001.