Fatal building site accidents on the rise

In response to a 28% increase in the number of deaths from work accidents on building sites over the past year, the government is to host high level talks in an attempt to take action.

Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain has arranged the meeting in London where he is expected to tell unions, employers and safety officials that the rise is unacceptable.

Mr Hain will call for building workers to have better skills and a better understanding of health and safety issues as according to the Health and Safety Executive the number of deaths last year jumped from 60 to 77.

He will also suggest that union health and safety representatives be appointed at every building site.
The union says many self-employed workers, including migrants, are denied employment rights and do not have essential safety training.

David Urpeth, Partner at law firm Irwin Mitchell specialises in work place accidents. He commented: Any accident at work that results in a fatality is a tragedy for the individual and their family. It is therefore extremely concerning that the number of deaths occurring within the construction industry is increasing. This cannot be allowed to continue.

Sadly, I have to deal with the claims that result from such tragedies and I see at first hand the misery they cause.

Anyone injured in an accident on a building site or the relation of someone killed during construction work should seek legal advice as soon as possible.