The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has released provisional figures, which reveal that 53 construction workers were killed in 2009/10, a 26% decrease on the previous 12-month period.

Construction remains the most dangerous industry in Britain.

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of construction union UCATT, said: "Any reduction in deaths is welcomed. But we must remember that 53 families lost a loved one last year, for them the reduction in deaths is no comfort at all. It is premature for the industry to engage in a backslapping exercise about improved construction safety.


"All the evidence indicates that the drop in deaths is due to the economic downturn. Rather than relax on safety measures it is essential that the industry and the Health and Safety Executive redouble their efforts to make sites safe, otherwise as the industry recovers deaths will increase markedly."

(CD/JM)