ABSTRACT
Over many years, the construction industry has had a poor health and safety record. In 1966, there were 292 fatalities in the industry and by 1995 this fi gure had reduced to 62 but by 2000/01 the fi gure had increased to 106. Over the last 25 years, 2,800 people have died on construction sites. These fi gures include deaths of members of the public including children playing on construction sites. Although most of these fatalities (over 70%) were caused by falls from height, there are other signifi - cant causes. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has listed the main causes of fatalities as:
■ falling through fragile roofs and roofl ights; ■ falling from ladders, scaffolds and other workplaces; ■ being struck by excavators, fork-lift trucks or
dumper trucks; ■ overturning vehicles; ■ being crushed by collapsing structures.
