Each year over 40,000 workers die or suffer major injuries at work in Britain, and since April 1992, over 1,000 workers in the construction industry alone have lost their lives. Between April 2003 and March 2004, 70 building workers lost their lives, accounting for 30% of all the deaths at work last year and in the past six months, 37 construction workers died on building sites across Britain.
It's against this sombre backdrop that next week has been designated European Week of Health and Safety. The focus of European Health and Safety Week 2004 is "building in safety", which aims to make the construction industry a safer, healthier and more productive working environment.
TUC deputy general secretary, Frances O'Grady, says: "Construction deaths at work are on the increase again. Employers will only change their poor health and safety practices when they realise that they are likely to be punished if found guilty of causing the deaths of their staff or members of the public. The government must publish its proposals for a new corporate manslaughter law before the beginning of the next session of Parliament."
The number of construction workers in Britain has risen by almost 100,000 in the past decade, so a rise in accidents was likely. But, says Ms O'Grady, the industry still needs to end irresponsible working practices that endangers lives.
The European Health and Safety Week is also giving a special attention to the maintenance and repair activities that are carried out in all workplaces, and the risks from asbestos exposure. According to the health and safety executive's data there are half a million commercial properties in the UK containing undisturbed asbestos.
Asbestos is the biggest occupational health risk ever faced by workers in Britain, at least 3,500 people died in 2002-03 as a result of exposure to asbestos fibres. The annual number of deaths is expected to peak somewhere in the range 4,000 to 5,000, between the years 2011 and 2015. However, the actual peak figure could be even higher.
From last May, anyone who owns commercial or industrial property or is responsible for its maintenance, must check for asbestos and manage the risk properly. The same will apply to public buildings and to the common parts of other property such as blocks of flats. Asbestos becomes dangerous when disturbed; if maintenance workers are not warned of its presence they may release deadly fibres and unwittingly endanger lives.
Bill Callaghan, chairman of the Health and Safety Commission, says: "Asbestos is not yesterday's problem. We must now meet the challenge of managing the risks from asbestos, if we are to prevent another generation of workers suffering an early death at its hand."
In a separate move, an Institute of Employment Rights report highlights the extent to which the UK government has failed to meet its own targets for improvement contributing to the health and safety at work issue. The report - Health and Safety: Revitalised or Reversed? - argues that a voluntary approach to health and safety established by the 1974 Health and Safety Act has failed. Enforcement of health and safety has declined with a 12% cut in local authority inspectors and a 20% cut in workplace visits.
Health and Safety: Revitalised or Reversed? by Phil James and David Walters priced £20 is available from IER, 177 Abbeville Road, London SW4 9RL.
· For Health and Safety Executive's InfoLine, tel: 08701 545500, or write to: HSE Information Services, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.
