According to a series of provisional figures released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), deaths in this country?s construction industry have hit a record low. In 2008/9, a total of 53 construction workers were killed. Although this represents a considerable fall of 26 percent from 2007/8, when 72 workers died, it is still an indicator of how dangerous constructions jobs could be if safety issues were ignored.

According to HSE, most of the deaths were caused by falls from height and accidents involving heavy plant. Only one person was electrocuted. Among the workers killed, 33 were employees and 20 were self-employed labourers. Four members of the public also died in accidents related to construction jobs.

Statistically, the rate of fatal injuries in 2008/9 was 2.4 per 100,000 workers. Those with construction jobs would be right to say that they are working in one of the most dangerous industries. In the words of Philip White, HSE chief inspector of construction: ?We very much welcome any reduction in the number of construction workers being fatally injured? We all owe it to the workers who have lost their lives to continue to take an uncompromising approach to workplace safety.???

The UK has perhaps the world?s toughest laws and regulations regarding workplace safety, particularly for construction jobs. Early this year, a renowned engineering company was fined ?300,000 after one of its workers was fatally electrocuted in 2005. The man came into contact with a live conductor in a cable he was working on. Although the cable was labelled ?not in use???, the worker had not been given the necessary equipment to prove that this was the case.

For those who currently hold or are aspiring for construction jobs, one life lost is one life too many. All workers need to demand the best safety equipment and service that are available, and to report any breach of workplace safety guidelines to the authorities.

Most importantly, it is the responsibility of employers to ensure that all workplace safety guidelines are strictly observed. Only in a safe environment can all construction jobs be performed to satisfaction.