LONDON — Fatal incidents in the UK construction industry have risen by almost 20% in the last five years, new data has found. In 2022/23, 45 fatal injuries were reported, an increase of 15% compared to the previous year. 

Falling from a height is still the number one cause of fatal and non-fatal incidents in the construction sector. Those working in the industry are three times more likely to experience falling from a height than experiencing an injury through something collapsing or overturning.

Being struck by a moving vehicle and then being struck by a moving object were the second and third most common fatal accidents for workers. Between them, these accidents account for around two-thirds of fatal injuries to workers in 2022/23. 

The rate of deaths per 100,000 workers also surged by 22% in 2022, reaching 2.1 per 100,000, compared to 1.72 in 2021. The death rate in the construction sector is three times higher than in the transportation and storage industry. This increases to over seven times higher than those working in the waste and recycling industries.

The findings, collated by specialist providers of cherry picker hire in London, Herts Tools, used construction statistics from the Health and Safety Executive reports from 2022 to 2023. The analysis demonstrates the severity of accidents in the construction industry which are continuing to rise year on year and how workers and workplaces are being affected.

The data also revealed a significant rise in the number of days lost per construction worker due to injuries, 6.4 days were recorded in 2022, resulting in an uptick of 23% since 2021.

Injuries and ill health in workers in Great Britain cost around £16.2 billion in 2018/19. This compares to £20.6 billion in 2022/23.

Stefano Lobban, director at Herts Tools, says:

“Although there will always be accidents in the construction industry, we can never stop trying to reduce them. These latest findings show just how far we have to go, with fatalities continuing to rise, despite the UK having some of the most thorough health and safety regulations anywhere.

“Training is key to protecting workers, whether it’s highlighting dangers or teaching workers to make their own risk assessments on site. Then there’s ensuring workers have all the PPE they need, such as helmets, safety goggles, and slip-resistant footwear. I hope these findings act as a wake-up call to the industry and we’ll see a reduction in incident numbers next year.”

Phil Beaumont, Health and safety consultant, says: 

“First and foremost it's important for sites and companies to implement rules, procedures, and policies that people can follow clearly to conduct safe practices at work. Keeping a record of incidents and continuously assessing what went right, what went wrong, what was irrelevant, and what more could have been done previously is vital to minimize future accidents at work. 

“If a company reports an accident at work amongst one of its workers, depending on the severity of the accident and cause, they should carry out a thorough risk assessment for the returning person/people to ensure they’re capable of doing the tasks they’re assigned which won’t aggravate their recovery. This should also include manual handling and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) assessments. "It's also worth potentially looking at a buddy system, temporary assignments, reduced hours, and planning a stepped return to work for anyone who has experienced an incident in the industry.”

In the United States, the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction runs from May 1 through May 5 and highlights fall hazards and fall prevention in the construction industry. In 2021, nearly 1 in 5 workplace deaths occurred in the construction industry. Just over one-third of construction deaths were due to falls, slips, and trips. Of these, almost all were from falls to a lower level. The construction industry accounted for 46.2 percent of all fatal falls, slips, and trips in 2021.

In 2022, more construction workers died on the job that year than in any other industry sector. In 2022, 1,069 construction professionals died while working, a rate of 9.6 fatalities per 100,000 full-time workers, according to a report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Eighty-three more people died at work in construction in 2022 than in 2021, and the fatality rate for the industry inched up from 9.4 to 9.6. The fatality rate in construction has hovered at around 10 deaths per 100,000 for over a decade.

How can companies prevent accidents on construction sites? 

•    Training and Education: Provide thorough training on safety protocols and equipment operation.
•    Regulatory Compliance: Ensure adherence to safety regulations through regular inspections.
•    Equipment Maintenance: Maintain machinery and tools to prevent accidents caused by faults.
•    Clear Communication: Use visible signage and encourage reporting of safety concerns.
•    Risk Assessment: Conduct thorough assessments and develop mitigation strategies.
•    Safety Culture: Promote a culture where safety is prioritized through open communication and regular meetings.