Construction

For more information on Construction click here for the relevant chapter of the TUC guide to health and safety "Hazards at Work

Construction is one of Britain's biggest industries and one of its most dangerous.

In the last 25 years, 2,800 people have been killed on construction sites or as a result of construction activities. Many more have been injured or made ill. Each year it tops the work fatalities list, accounting for over a quarter of all workplace deaths. Annually, as many as 4,000 building workers may die from industrial disease and thousands are injured as a result of construction work.

Hazards faced by construction workers include: Asbestos; musculo-skeletal disorders; falls; slips and tips; noise. Diseases they face include: Dermatitis; asthma, and emphysema. Often work is sub-contracted, causing uncertainty as to who is responsible for safety. New legislation now insists that everyone has duties and responsibilities regarding health and safety, from the worker to each contractor, to the architect up to the top boss.

Links:

HSE Construction pages http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/index.htm

Free HSE publications on construction http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/conindex.htm


The most recent documents available on this subject are:

Compensation move puts ideology over justice

The passage last week of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act means workers will only be able to claim compensation for a workplace injury or disease if they can demonstrate employer negligence, even if it is accepted that employer had broken cri...

PDF version available for download
3 May 2013
Renewed protests at Crossrail blacklisters

Unite members and blacklisted workers have staged noisy protests against firms involved in the massive Crossrail construction job

PDF version available for download
3 May 2013
Blacklisters shamed in new report

The extent to which major construction companies were involved in illegal blacklisting activity for over a decade has been revealed in a report from MPs.

PDF version available for download
19 April 2013
Site blitz shows the need for year round inspections

Construction union UCATT is calling for a far higher number of official site safety inspections after a month-long nationwide blitz by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found there has been no improvement in standards since a similar initiative l...

PDF version available for download
12 April 2013
Union warning on construction skills rip-off

Construction union UCATT is warning workers not to be duped into paying over the odds for construction safety and skills papers.

PDF version available for download
12 April 2013
UCATT calls for best practice on construction skills

Construction union UCATT has demanded stricter controls and scrutiny of 'skills cards' for workers on public sector projects in Scotland to avoid inexperienced workers being hired on dangerous jobs.

PDF version available for download
11 January 2013



Back to Workplace Issues.

This page http://www.tuc.org.uk/workplace/index.cfm
printed 19 May 2013 at 10:54 hrs by 54.234.180.187