Falling from a height remains 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 Herts Tools, the provider of cherry picker hire in London, used construction statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) 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 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, compared to £20.6 billion in 2022-23.
Stefano Lobban, Director at Herts Tools, said that despite 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,” he added.
