Results from the 2011/12 accident survey carried out by the National Specialist Contractor’s Council (NSCC) show that the NSCC fatality rate has fallen by 50% and the major injury rate by 43% since NSCC started collecting accident information in 2004.
The accident rate for injuries requiring more than three days off work has fallen by 60%.
Last year, the NSCC fatal injury rate was 1.8 per 100,000 workers compared with the industry rate of 2.3 per 100,000 workers as reported by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).
The NSCC major injury rate was 204.1 per 100,000 workers and the over three-day injury rate was 496.0 per 100,000 workers, a fall of 22% on the 2010/11 rate.
Almost half of all accidents occurring to NSCC specialist contractors resulted from either handling/ lifting/carrying or slips/trips, which is consistent with all industrial accidents in the UK, including construction.
All NSCC member organisations provided information as part of the latest annual survey, representing more than 2,300 businesses and more than 112,000 workers.
NSCC chief executive Suzannah Nichol said:“Construction is a high risk industry but the success of the Olympic Delivery Authority in delivering the Olympic Park with no fatalities and a below average accident rate proves that, if we make health and safety on site a priority, we can successfully reduce the number of accidents that occur. By collating accident information from the specialist sector, NSCC is able to identify trends and tailor the guidance and support available to members to reduce the risk of similar accidents recurring in the future.”
From 6 April 2012, the HSE extended the period before an injury needs to be reported under RIDDOR from over three days to over seven days and the NSCC accident survey for 2012/13 will be updated accordingly.
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