New research from the HSE shows drop major injuries to construction workers, with the number of fatalities virtually unchanged.

Figures published by the Health and Safety Executive today show that fatal injuries in the work place increased by 4% in 2003/4 nationwide, with 235 workers losing their lives, including the 21 people killed whilst harvesting cockles in Morecombe Bay. Of total figure almost a third (70) occurred in the construction industry. Last year 71 construction employees were killed at work.

Athough the total overall number of reported major injuries to employees increased by 9% to 30,666, the HSE believes this is down to changes in the way the service industry reports incidents, rather than an increase in danger in the workplace. In the construction sector rates of reported major injury have fallen consistently since 1999/2000.