The number of deaths in the construction industry went up last year from 41 to 50, contributing to an overall rise in the number of workplace deaths in the UK from 147 to 171.

With a death rate of 2.4 per 100,000 workers, the construction industry is the third most deadly sector to work in after agriculture and waste recycling.

But in spite of this year’s increase in fatalities the figure is lower than the five-year average and the trend is still downwards.

Julie Nerney, the chief executive of the British Safety Council, has expressed her concern at the figures released last month (on 28 June). “We have a large number of members in construction and manufacturing. We will be re-doubling efforts to work with them to build competence and spread good practice. We owe that much to the families of those who died in needless workplace accidents.“