ABSTRACT
The construction industry has one of the highest accident rates of all industries. In 2006/07 there were 3.7 fatal injuries per 100,000 employees, or 77 deaths, and 32 per cent of all worker deaths were in the construction industry. There were over 3,700 reported major injuries with the highest being slip and trip (27 per cent) and falls from a height (also 27 per cent). The number of over-three-day injuries was reported to be over 7,100; the most common cause (38 per cent) involved handling, lifting or carrying. It is unacceptable to talk about accidents as being an occupational hazard; the industry has to, and is beginning to, reduce the accident figures, and is aiming to achieve an incident-and injury-free place of work.
