Seventyone people in the construction industry died as the result of injuries at work in 2004/5. That is 32% of all work related fatalities and 70% more than the next highest figure, which is in agriculture, forestry and fishing. A further 3,760 people suffered major injuries. The most common cause of death or major injury was falling from a height, followed by slips and trips, being hit by a moving or falling object and lifting and carrying. Lifting and carrying was the most common cause of minor injuries resulting in three or more days off work. The figures are revealed in the latest report from the Health, Safety, Ethical & Environmental Commission published this month (November).

But, while construction is clearly still a relatively dangerous industry to work in (you are almost five times more likely to die in construction than in industry in general), it is getting safer. At 3.4 per 100,000 operatives, the death rate is the best it has been for 13 years and the rate of major injuries continued a general downward trend that started in 1998/9, falling 9% from last year to just under 300 per 100,000 operatives. The overall rate of injuries resulting in three or more days off work in construction fell 12%. Ill health remained at much the same level as last year at 1.9 days lost per worker, which is 26% higher than the all industry average.