Construction death toll rises

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and official government statisticians National Statistics have made an exceptional early release of the data for fatal injuries to construction workers in the period April to September 2000.

The data shows there were 62 fatalities in the construction sector over this period - a substantial increase compared with the corresponding six-month period last year when there were 39 deaths. National Statistics said: "Early knowledge of fatal accident statistics in the construction industries within the HSE, in advance of the compilation of the whole economy picture, led to the view that there exist significant public safety reasons - particularly preventative and educational reasons - for exceptional early release of these figures."

Enquiries on the construction statistics can be made to the HSE, Strategy and Analytical Support Directorate, Room 512, Daniel House, Trinity Road, Bootle, Merseyside L20 7HE. Tel: 0151 951 4842.