Research conducted by RRC International, a provider of occupational health and safety training, found that 37% of health and safety professionals perceived the construction sector as having the worst attitudes towards workplace safety. This was followed by the manufacturing industry, at almost 13%.
This most recent survey of industry attitudes to safety is concerning and comes after 2024 Health and Safety Executive statistics that reported 50 fatalities due to falls from height in the UK between 2023-2024. Falls from height accounted for 36% of the 138 worker deaths during this period, which means it remains the leading cause of fatal injury to workers.
Within the construction industry, according to HSE, the average number of deaths in the last two years is significantly higher than pre-pandemic records across 2016-2017, and 2018-2019. In fact, the rate of fatal injuries within the sector is, on average, five times higher than any other industry.
Dave Elson, compliance manager at Werner and BoSS – companies under the ProDriven Global Brands portfolio – commented: “This latest RRC International report is incredibly concerning and acts as a powerful reminder to construction industry workers and employers that health and safety must be prioritised above all else.
“Given that falls from height always rank highly as the primary factor in many fatal and non-fatal injuries within the construction industry, we again stress the importance of cultivating a strong health and safety culture to help to work towards reducing these figures.
“We know that negative attitudes towards health and safety can contribute to serious injury or worse. Therefore, increased awareness, training, and the encouragement of open communication around is needed to prevent further needless injuries within construction.
“When it comes to working from height we urge employers to ensure engaging training is provided on a regular basis. In addition to this, they should ensure that workers are planning jobs properly and that they have access to the correct equipment that is free from damage and the appropriate markings for professional use. Regular inspections of all access equipment should also be arranged.”
Employers and employees looking to improve company culture around safety, specifically when working at height, can also look to a wide range of resources available for support, including the information laid out as part of Werner and Boss’ Stepping up to Safety initiative.
