UCATT Responds to Latest Fatality Figures

Construction union UCATT have welcomed the latest fatality figures, which show that construction deaths decreased last year. In 2009/10 there were a total of 41 deaths in the construction industry. This was a decrease of 21% on fatalities in 2009/10 when a total of 52 workers were killed.

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of construction union UCATT, said: “The reduction in construction deaths is good news. Yet, it must never be forgotten that each death is an individual tragedy. The reduction is primarily due to the economic downturn, which has not only meant that fewer people are working on construction sites, but has reduced time pressures, reduced working hours, and decreased the number of inexperienced workers on site, all of which are major factors in accidents.”

Despite the reduction in fatalities UCATT are concerned that deaths could increase in the future, as the industry continues to recover from recession. UCATT fear that Lord Young’s current review of safety regulations, could lead to a weakening of safety standards.

Prior to the General Election the Conservatives proposed introducing private safety audits. Once a company had obtained an audit, Health and Safety Executive inspectors would be barred from sites unless an emergency occurred. In construction an emergency is likely to mean a worker being killed or maimed.

Mr Ritchie added: “The challenge for everyone concerned about safety is to ensure that the number of deaths in construction continues to be reduced as the industry recovers and activity increases. Rather than looking to reduce safety provisions the Government should be ensuring workers are safe by increasing the number of inspections and enforcement activity.”

In total across all industries 151 people were killed at work in 2009/10 this was a reduction of 15 per cent on 2008/9 when a total of 178 people were killed at work.