Union demands action after deaths in building industry double in year

There were six construction deaths in Yorkshire in 2012/13 compared with three in 2011/12.

The rise came at a time when fatalities in the whole of the UK 
fell last year. Nationally there were 39 construction fatalities in 2012/13 compared with 49 in 2011/12.

Rob Morris, Yorkshire regional secretary for UCATT, said: “The sharp rise in construction deaths in Yorkshire is very disturbing.

“Each and every one of these death is an individual tragedy, where someone’s loved one did not come home one night.

“The vast majority of construction deaths are entirely preventable and everyone involved in the industry should be working together to reduce fatalities.”

In 2012/13 in the UK the most common type of fatal construction accident was falls from heights which led to 23 deaths, 60 per cent of all deaths recorded.

Mr Morris added: “As the construction industry emerges from recession there is a strong likelihood that deaths and injuries will rise unless urgent action is taken now to improve construction safety.”

Among the Yorkshire deaths was that of Tony Victor, 54, killed in July 2012 while dismantling a lift at an empty office block in Queen Street, Leeds.