Small-firm Builders at Greater Risk of Fatal Injury, Report Claims

More than half of the building workers killed in 2007/08 worked for
small companies, despite such firms employing little over a third of
the construction workforce. This is the main finding of a report
written by the Centre for Corporate Accountability for construction
union, UCATT, which wants more HSE inspectors to support a tougher
regime of enforcement and prosecutions, and apply pressure on small
construction companies "all year round".

The report, Small isn't beautiful, reveals that in 2007/08, 51 per
cent of construction workers killed worked for companies with fewer
than 50 employees - a disproportionately-high total, while almost half
of these deaths occurred in companies that employed five or fewer
workers (so-called micro companies). Figures from the Department for
Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) show that 34 per
cent of the construction workforce are employed by small and
micro-sized firms.

UCATT says the research also suggests a potential need to impose
statutory directors' duties on smaller firms, as well as medium and
larger firms. General secretary, Alan Ritchie, said: "As the law
stands a company boss is more likely to be sent to prison for not
paying their taxes than killing one of his workers. It is an appalling
state of affairs and sends a terrible message that we as a society
consider life to be cheap."

The report also provides information on who died, where they worked,
how they died, and their age. According to the CCA, a report of this
kind could not have been published until recently because the HSE
refused to publish the names of those whose deaths were reported to
it. The Executive is now obliged to provide the names of the deceased
following a ruling by the Information Commissioner in July last year.

Added Ritchie: "Each and every one of these deaths is an individual
tragedy. This report spells out in stark clear terms how each
individual died. In order to achieve real improvements in safety it is
vital not to hide behind statistics."

Commenting on the report and the union's demands, Brian Berry,
director of external affairs at the Federation of Master Builders
(FMB), told SHP: "There is already a considerable amount of health and
safety legislation in place but the real challenge is not more
regulation but better enforcement of what already is in place with a
strong emphasis on ensuring its practicality on site.

"We need to bring about a cultural change within the construction
sector that takes health and safety more seriously. Better funding of
the HSE would help, as would better advice to small firms and more
access to training for all members of staff to help reduce the number
of accidents and deaths on construction sites.

"The FMB encourages all building firms, particularly its members, to
take advantage of the free publications available from the HSE, which
are also available on the FMB website."