Figures published by the Health and Safety Executive last month for the construction sector make for sobering reading. During 2008/09 the industry had the third highest rate of fatal accidents, just behind agriculture and the extractive industries. Fifty-three fatalities were recorded, that's 2.5 for every 100,000 workers. However, there is some cause for optimism. The rate has dropped by more than a third over the past three years and the figure for 2008/09 is less than half that recorded at the beginning of the millennium. Philip White, head of construction at the HSE, says there has been a continuing downward trend both in fatal and major accidents.
展开▼
