CONSTRUCTION FORUM - September 2007
Falling from a height continues to be the most common kind (type) of accident, accounting for 19% of fatal injuries to workers in 2006/07
Over the last decade there has been steady and significant reduction in fatal injuries due to this type of accident. Being struck by a moving or falling object, and being struck by a moving vehicle, are the next most common kinds of fatal accident.
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Rt Hon. Peter Hain, has convened a Construction Forum to focus specifically on the house building and domestic repair/refurbishment sectors. By inviting a small group of influential organisations/people with lead roles throughout the supply chain, he is seeking to agree action to address the increase in fatal injuries in these sectors.
Further information will be provided following the event.
For more details of the Construction Fatal Injury Statistics 2006/07 please follow the link below.
Fatal Injury Stats 2006/07
Summary of the fatal injury statistics for 2006/07
- The provisional figure for the number of workers fatally injured in 2006/07 is 241, and corresponds to a rate of fatal injury of 0.80 per 100 000 workers. In 2005/06, the finalised figures were 217 and 0.72 respectively; these were the lowest annual figures on record.
- Although a long-term downward trend is still clear, the rate of decrease has slowed over the last 15 years and there has been very little change in the overall rate over the last five years.
- Of the main industrial sectors, agriculture and construction have the highest rates of fatal injury. Together these two sectors account for 46% of fatal injuries to workers.
- Falling from a height continues to be the most common kind (type) of accident, accounting for 19% of fatal injuries to workers in 2006/07. Over the last decade there has been steady and significant reduction in fatal injuries due to this type of accident. Being struck by a moving or falling object, and being struck by a moving vehicle, are the next most common kinds of fatal accident.
- There were 90 members of the public fatally injured in 2006/07 (excluding railways-related incidents). The number of member of the public incidents reported has not shown any significant change over time.
Worker fatalities by main industry
- In agriculture there were 34 fatalities and the rate of fatal injury was 8.1 deaths per 100 000 workers. The rate of fatal injury to workers has fluctuated in recent years with no statistically significant trend.
- In construction there were 77 fatalities and the rate of fatal injury was 3.7 deaths per 100 000 workers. Over the last 15 years there has been a statistically significant downward trend in the rate of fatal injury to workers; on average a 3.9% year on year decrease. However, the higher number and rate for 2006/07 changes a pattern consistent with continued reduction up to 2005/06 into one of no change since 2002/03.
- In manufacturing there were 35 fatalities and the rate of fatal injury was 1.1 per 100 000 workers. The rate of fatal injury to workers has fluctuated in recent years with no statistically significant trend.
- In the services sector there were 85 fatalities, and the rate of fatal injury was 0.35 deaths per 100 000 workers. Since 1998/99, the trend in the rate of injury in this sector has remained relatively unchanged.
- Statistics of Fatal Injuries 2006/07 [PDF 150kb]
- Latest six month fatal injuries for 2006/07 (1 April 2006 to 30 Sept 2006), as reported to all health and safety enforcing authorities
