Though this figure may alter through further deaths
after long illness from injuries at work, or deaths
found to be from natural causes, it represents a 10%
improvement on the previous year.
Even though these figures are a step in the right
direction the construction industry can not be
complacent. Further improvements must continue with
the aim of stopping fatalities at work completely
with continued improvements in
health and safety
measures at the workplace. Employers and employees
alike have a responsibility for identifying and
improving inadequate health and safety procedures.
Chief Inspector of Construction at the HSE Stephen
Williams said: "The release of these figures comes
very soon after HSE inspectors stopped work at a
third of the 1000 sites visited during our recent
spot checks on the refurbishment sector. We did this
because we felt there was a real possibility that
lives would be lost or ruined through serious
injury. 395 enforcement notices were served during
the spot checks and in 13 cases inspectors believed
the situation on site to be so poor that prosecution
is being considered."
