Government launches inquiry into construction deaths
Categories:
Construction Health and Safety |
The government has announced that it will be conducting a study into the underlying cause of deaths in the construction industry.
Rita Donaghy has been appointed as the independent chair of the inquiry, which will review existing work to get an understanding of fatal injuries in the sector.
James Purnell, secretary of state of the Department for Work and Pensions noted that the industry is one of the most dangerous, citing figures revealing that 2,800 people have died from construction-related injuries in the past 25 years.
He said: "The high number of fatalities in the construction sector continues to be of particular concern to us."
Ms Donaghy indicated that the Health and Safety Executive, trade unions and members of the construction industry would all be approached in the course of the inquiry.
Companies looking to minimise the risk workers are exposed to should provide personal protective equipment (PPE), such as
safety helmets,
hi vis clothing and
safety gloves.
The PPE at Work 1992 requires employers to ensure that equipment fits staff properly and that it is well maintained.
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