The Health and Safety Executive recorded 77 deaths in the year 2006/2007, an increase of 28% from last year, when it recorded 60 deaths.

The death rate also showed a marked increase from three deaths per 1,000 workers last year to 3.7.
 
The latest figures were last exceeded five years ago, during the year 2001/2002, when 80 workers were killed.
 
Overall workplace deaths rose to 241 for the year 2006/2007 against 217 in the previous year, with the construction industry contributing the most to this increase.
 
John Lacey, the chair of the IOSH Construction Specialist Group, said: “This increase is absolutely appalling. It is essential that a health and safety culture is adopted in all sections of the construction industry, and more effort made to eliminate unsafe working practices. 
 
“I’m particularly concerned that it’s the same old causes that are killing people. Falls from height are still the biggest killer, but being struck by a moving or falling object has claimed 19 lives this year and that’s a real worry.
 
“It is vital that the construction industry place health and safety at the top of their agenda. This means ensuring people are adequately trained in health and safety, and safe practice is implemented throughout the organisation.
 
“To help enable a culture of safety to thrive, we believe professional, practical health and safety advice is needed at board level.  Competent advice on site with workers fully involved with safe working practices will also help to stem the flow of fatal and major injury incidents occurring.” 
 
IOSH’s Construction Specialist Group will be working with the HSE and other bodies to try to identify ways to improve the industry’s health and safety record.