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Construction Deaths Remain Far Too High In London And The South East

Research undertaken by construction union UCATT has revealed that deaths in London and the South East remain worryingly high.

In 2007/8 18 construction workers were killed in UCATT’s London and South East Region compared to 20 deaths in 2006/7. Nationally during the same period construction deaths decreased slightly from 79 in 2006/7 to 72 in 2007/8.

There were 10 construction deaths in 2007/8 in London an increase of one on the previous year. In the South East region there were seven deaths a decrease of three from the previous 12 months.

Since 2002 the number of enforcement notices and prosecutions issued by the Health and Safety Executive has been declining. The decline in enforcement activity has been caused by budget cuts and a reduction in the number of frontline inspectors.

The industry has also become increasingly casualised, with a large increase in the number of workers supplied through employment agencies and Gangmasters. This has resulted in a large number of inexperienced workers being placed on construction sites.

Jerry Swain, Regional Secretary of UCATT’s London and South East Region, said: “Every one of those 18 deaths represents an individual tragedy for a family whose loved one never returned home. Sadly in the construction industry there remain far too many bosses who do not see health and safety as a priority. That attitude must be stamped out if we are going to substantially reduce fatalities in the future.”

Construction is the most dangerous occupation in Britain, analysis shows that nationally the most likely causes of deaths were: Fall from height (23 deaths), hit by a moving or flying object (16), electrocution (10).

It is estimated that management failure is a contributory factor in at least 70 per cent of construction deaths. However only 30 per cent of companies are prosecuted following the death of a construction worker.

Mr Swain, added: “In the last  two years there were 38 construction deaths in the region. This is a quarter of all deaths in the country. Many of these deaths barely even received a footnote in local papers. More must be done to highlight construction safety or sadly the high number of deaths will continue.”

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235

UCATT Opposes Loss of Jobs And Skills in Islington

Construction union UCATT are calling on Islington council to defend the jobs of highly skilled craft workers in the borough.

Kier Islington is planning to close the borough’s joinery shop and transfer work to a separate entity in Harlow.

The joinery shop provides doors, windows and stairways for local authority properties throughout the borough. They also provide an emergency repair service when it is needed. The workers are highly skilled and the joinery shop also provides apprenticeships and training, in an area where high quality manual training is limited.

Kier Islington is a joint venture between private company Kier’s and the Liberal Democrat led authority. The council has a golden share in the venture and are able to veto the proposed closure.

It is understood that the vast majority of the workers affected by the threatened closure of the joinery shop are unwilling to transfer to Harlow. If the shop closes their skills and knowledge will be lost by both the residents of Islington and the company.

Jerry Swain, Regional Secretary for UCATT’s London and the South East region, said: “This is an area of Islington which is crying out for skilled workers and training. It is outrageous that the council could even contemplate transferring jobs to Essex and leaving local residents with a poorer service.”

The issue is set to be debated at Islington’s full council meeting on October 9. The opposition Labour group have tabled a motion calling for the ruling Liberal Democrats to use their golden share to keep the joinery shop open.

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235

Vigil In Oxfordshire In Memory Of Construction Worker Killed At Work

Construction union UCATT are to hold a vigil following the recent death of a construction worker.

Construction work Altin Balla lost his fight for life last week following a major accident on August 29 while working on the Marriotts Close, Shopping Centre Development in Witney, Oxfordshire.

 It is understood that Mr Balla was crushed and trapped by steel girders while operating a cherry picker.

UCATT activists, local trade unionists and representatives from the Construction Safety Campaign will gather at 12pm on Tuesday 9^th September outside the site in Marriotts Way Witney, to hold a vigil and stage a minute’s silence as a mark of respect for Mr Balla.

Deaths in the construction industry are all too prevalent. Last year (2007/8) 72 people were killed on construction sites. In (2006/7) the figure was 79. Due to pressure from UCATT’s leadership the Government is committed to hold an independent inquiry into the high number of fatalities in the construction industry.

Jerry Swain, UCATT regional secretary for London and the South East region, said: “Our deepest sympathies go to Mr Balla’s family. This tragedy yet again underlines the high number of deaths in the construction industry. It is essential we remember those killed at work in order to highlight the need to improve safety standards on all sites.”

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235

UCATT Hold Event To Mark Workers Memorial Day

Every region of construction union UCATT have today (April 28) been involved in events to mark International Workers Memorial Day.

In London an event was held at UCATT’s statue to the Unknown Construction Worker at Tower Hill. Over 300 construction workers from sites in London were in attendance.

Speaking at the event Harry Cohen Labour MP for Leyton and Wanstead read out a message of support from Gordon Brown the Prime Minister, which said that the Government would “never stop campaigning for health and safety at home and abroad.”

Mr Cohen, also said: “The prevailing attitude has to be safety first, backed by law.”

Tony O’Brien of the Construction Safety Campaign (who jointly organised the event), said: “There had been a long history of abuse of construction workers” by construction bosses summed up by the phrase “your health their wealth”.

Jerry Swain regional secretary of UCATT’s London and South East Region, made an impassioned plea for a crackdown on rogue construction bosses and said: “You should pay the penalty if you put construction workers lives at risk. We must tell the employers enough, is enough is enough.”

At the end of the ceremony a minute’s silence was held and then black balloons to commemorate every construction worker who was killed at work last year were released.

In 2007/8 69 construction workers were killed. In 2006/7 the figure was 77. Construction is by far the most dangerous industry in Britain.

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235