The number of fatalities in construction has risen by 55% since last year and is the highest of any industry, according to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) data.
The sector recorded 45 fatal injuries during 2022/23, up from 29 in 2020/21.
Construction is also second for higher-than-average rates of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, after administrative and support service activities.
It is also among the sectors with significantly higher workplace non-fatal injury rates, compared with the average rate across all industries.
Caroline Gumble, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Building, said that although there has been huge progress in safety in construction over the years, the number of fatalities is concerning.
She said: “Sadly 45 people in our sector never made it home from work and we owe it to them, their loved ones and their colleagues to continue putting health, safety and wellbeing at the forefront of every project while providing workers with the relevant training, equipment and PPE to safely carry out their jobs.
“Our current #PPEthatfits campaign has safety at its heart and aims to improve the provision of properly fitting PPE for everyone in the sector regardless of their size, gender, or religion.
“It’s not all bad news for construction, however, and it’s encouraging to see reported instances of work-related ill health are lower than the average across all industries. As a sector, a great amount of work has gone into improving worker wellbeing, and while there is always more that can be done, some of that work appears to be paying off.”
