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UCATT Eastern



UCATT Eastern

Goodwin House
Goodwin Business Park
Willie Snaith Road
Newmarket
CB8 7SQ

Tel: 01638 565830
Fax: 01638 565836

Witham (Essex)

                                                                    Tel 01376 521830


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UCATT Calls For More Enforcement And Tougher Penalties As Construction Deaths Rise In Eastern England

Research by construction union UCATT has discovered that construction deaths in Eastern England dramatically increased last year.

In 2007/8 there were 10 deaths in UCATT’s Eastern Region. This was a large increase on the previous year when there 7 deaths in the region. The rise in deaths is particularly alarming because nationally construction deaths decreased slightly overall from 79 to 72 deaths during the same period.

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.

Brian Rye, Regional Secretary of UCATT’s Eastern Region, said: “Each one of those 10 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 Rye, added: “In a large geographical region such as Eastern England it is imperative that a truly effective enforcement regime is introduced. Otherwise it is too easy to miss sites with very poor health and safety provisions.”

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235