Provisional data from the Health and Safety Executive shows the number of deaths in the construction industry has increased. For the year up to March 2011, 50 people have died (an increase from last year’s 42) and the majority of fatalities arose on smaller sites. This is the first rise since 2006/7 when there were 79 deaths in the industry¹.

Ref: HSE Shattered Lives, Construction, http://www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives/construction-case-study.htm

After announcements of budget cuts from the HSE last month, these new figures can only add to fury from critics who feel cost cutting measures (e.g. reductions in site visits) by the HSE are undoing all the good work of previous years when deaths in the industry were on a steady decline.  

According to construction union UCATT, the cuts to the HSE’s budget and subsequent easing off in inspection and enforcement activities will not help. Acting general secretary George Guy stated:  

"The increase in fatalities underlines just how dangerous construction remains, and this increase in deaths has come before there has been any meaningful recovery in the industry,” 

“...following all previous recessions there has been a marked increase in construction fatalities, as new, inexperienced companies and workers enter the industry².“

Some feel that it is unfair to lay the blame with the regulator or the government since the HSE’s job is to monitor companies and provide advice/ guidance, not to take on the company’s duties². The increase in deaths has been associated with clients demanding more from their contractors³ and as a consequence some construction companies are taking a relaxed approach when it comes to taking responsibility and making sure sites and employees are safe. With smaller budgets and priorities aiming towards gaining a profit, some companies have been tempted to cut costs and take unnecessary risks, subsequently making their sites unsafe places to work².

These companies are suffering the consequences of pushing construction workers too their limits and at the end of April two construction firms in Northern Ireland were fined a total of £61,000 after 150 tonnes of concrete collapsed and injured six workers³.

The HSE’s head of construction, Philip White spoke of the increase at a conference in London on the 5^th of April titled ‘Safety Schemes in Procurement’, and expressed his disappointment “competence – or lack of it – was clearly a feature in many of the fatalities².”  Mr White reinforced the HSE’s commitment to reducing fatalities in the construction industry, declaring that looking back over the past five years; overall, fatal injuries are on a downward trend¹.  

Highlighting the figures, White explained these were completely provisional and unverified at this early stage (the final figures for the 2010/2011 period will not be published until the end of this year), however HSE monitoring of the reports between April 2010 and March 2011 indicated a rise of around 15 per cent on last year’s low of 42 deaths. 

Mr White pointed out that the majority of deaths continue to be on small construction sites and “...this is not about money, it’s about mindset- planning jobs properly, thinking before you act and taking basic steps to protect yourself and your friends.¹” 

Mr Guy from UCATT conveyed his fears for the industry, “Given the cuts being faced by the HSE and the existing dearth of inspections and enforcement activity, it is all too probable that deaths will continue to rise in the industry².” 

So what can you as an employee do or as an employer do to keep fatalities and work related injuries to a minimum? 

1. Following The HSE’s “Simple mistakes shatter lives” campaign guidance was published in order to help people at their workplace. Slips, trips and falls from height can all have serious consequences and effects for those involved (e.g. families and the industry) but there are ways to ensure a safer environment for your workplace⁴. Visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/wait/index.htm for more information.

2. The HSE provided Work At Height Regulations for the industry, setting out three simple rules for work at height:  ·        

• AVOID work at height if you can - If you don't need to go up there, don't!!   
• If work at height cannot be avoided PREVENT falls by selecting and using the right access equipment – CLICK HERE FOR FALL PREVENTING EQUIPMENT, OR GET A QUICK ANALYSIS if you’re not sure which fall prevention equipment your project requires.      
• MINIMISE the impact of any fall. Where you cannot eliminate the risk of a fall, use work equipment or other means to minimise the distance and consequences of a fall, should one occur. CLICK HERE TO GET A QUICK ANALYSIS –Turner Access’s design and planning capabilities mean after a quick call or survey to your site we can provide you with the most appropriate equipment for the job and therefore minimise the risks on site. Safety is paramount at Turner Access therefore using our products alone makes it easy for you to comply with regulations and helps minimise the risk... 

Reference: http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/wait/whatyoumustdo.htm, “Don't let a fall shatter your life”

References 

1. Cranes & Access, “UK Construction deaths on the rise”, July 2011 Vol. 13 Issue 5, pg 8.

2. Safety and Health Practitioner, http://www.shponline.co.uk/news-content/full/construction-deaths-rise-as-cuts-are-ushered-in, “The Construction deaths rise as cuts are ushered in,” 06/04/2011

3. Allen & York, Health & Safety, “Construction Deaths Increase in Recession”, http://allenandyork.wordpress.com/2011/05/06/construction-deaths-increase-in-recession/, 06/05/2011

4. Shattered Lives, HSE, http://www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives/construction-case-study.htm, 25/07/2011