SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION

Approximately 120 men died in the construction industry during 1982 just doing their job. This was by no means a freak year for deaths in the construction industry, which regularly equal those in the whole of the manufacturing industry put together. The main causes of fatal accidents in the industry remain unchanged year after year. These are falls from a height, being struck by falling objects or materials, accidents with machinery and transport. To try and reduce this grim total, the Construction Industry Advisory Committee (CONIAC) with the support of the health and safety executive has launched Site Safe 83--a publicity campaign aimed at increasing the awareness of the whole industry to the hazards and risks of the work they do. This paper has been especially commissioned by the Institution's Publications Committee to draw attention to the unacceptable cost in death, suffering and money which takes place in the industry every year. (Author/TRRL)