Workplace Deaths Increase

A dramatic increase in workplace fatalities has led to a union call for more safety reps and for harsher penalties on deadly employers. The call comes after Risks revealed last week that 124 workers had died in the six months from April to September 2006.

If this trend is maintained it would mean a 17 per cent increase on last year's fatality total of 212 worker deaths. Preliminary full year figures for the construction industry have revealed the deadly trend in that sector in fact accelerated in the second half of the year, from October 2006 to March 2007.

Early indications are that 78 construction workers died in 2006/07, up from 59 the previous year - a 32 per cent increase.

Commenting on the new figures, GMB construction national secretary Phil Davies said: "Employers have to be made to be responsible and someone should end up in jail where corners are cut."He added: "More must be done to include safety representatives in proper consultation to stop people being killed at work and to improve health, safety and welfare across all UK building sites."

John McClean, GMB national health and safety officer, added "the involvement of trade union safety reps must be mandatory on all sites employing 50 or more workers. In addition the HSE need to redouble their efforts in monitoring all building projects. Now is not the time to propose further cuts to the HSE inspectorate."

HSE is in the throes of a major austerity programme, with hundreds of jobs to be lost and a range of work programmes curtailed. It is also considering the closure of a number of offices. Internal papers seen by Risks show HSE's National Agriculture Centre at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire is to close, in a decision made without any consultation with staff or unions.

Source: Risks

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