UCATT North West
 UCATT North West56 Derwent Road East |
News Archive
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Monday, 10 November 2008
Decrease In Construction Deaths In North West and North Wales Must Not Reduce Drive For Safer Sites
Research undertaken by construction union UCATT has revealed that construction deaths in its North West region (which includes North Wales) fell substantially last year.
In total there were 8 deaths across UCATT’s North West region in 2007/8, a reduction from 13 deaths in 2006/7. Six construction workers were killed in North West England. Two construction workers were killed in North Wales.
Nationally the number of construction deaths decreased slightly in 2007/8 with 72 people being killed at work on construction sites, compared to 79 in 2006/7.
George Guy, Regional Secretary of UCATT’s North West Region, said: “Any reduction in deaths must be seen as a positive step forward. However eight families lost loved ones in the region last year, each death is an individual tragedy.”
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 dramatic 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.
Mr Guy, added: “Although deaths have decreased I fear that this is mainly due to luck rather than any conscious improvement by the majority of employers to enhance safety provisions. Too many employers are willing to risk workers lives and do not take adequate safety precautions.”
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.
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