Construction deaths caused by accidents at work fell to 39 in 2020, down from 42 the year before, although the figure was still higher than the five-year average of 36.
New figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) showed that there were more fatal injuries in absolute terms in construction than in any other industry.
The rate of fatal injury in construction is around four times higher than the average rate across all industries (at 1.84 per 100,000). However, it is considerably lower than in either agriculture, forestry and fishing, or waste and recycling.
The HSE said that coronavirus had made measuring injury rates challenging because many workers were in fact furloughed in 2020/21 and therefore officially away from work. Fatal injury rates are calculated by dividing the count of fatal injuries by the estimated number of people in employment, and then multiplying the figure by 100,000, to give a rate per 100,000 workers. The HSE said that while its measure would over-estimate the number of workers actually at work in 2020/21, it would benefit from using the same measurement concept as in previous years.
When it came to modes of employment, HSE found that 65% of workers killed in construction accidents in 2020/21 were employees, while 35% were self-employed.
Across all industries, the three most common causes of fatal injuries continue to be workers falling from height (35), being struck by a moving vehicle (25) and being struck by a moving object (17), accounting for more than half of fatalities in 2020/21.
Meanwhile around 30% of fatal injuries in 2020/21 involving workers aged 60 or over, even though such workers only make up around 11% of the workforce.
Mesothelioma, a cancer contracted through past exposure to asbestos, showed that 2,369 people died in Great Britain in 2019, 7% lower than the average of 2,540 deaths over the previous seven years.
HSE’s chief executive, Sarah Albon, said: “Whilst the working world in which we now live has created new health challenges for workers and for those who have a duty towards them, safety must also remain a priority. Whilst the picture has improved considerably over the longer term and Great Britain is one of the safest places to work in the world, every loss of life is a tragedy, we are committed to ensuring that workplaces are as safe as they can be and that employers are held to account and take their obligations seriously.”
