Occupational make-up of Scottish construction workforce accounts for higher rate of accidents - report 5/4/06

The rate of fatal injuries to employees in Scotland's construction industry has, in recent years, been running at around 50% higher than elsewhere in GB, with the rate for major injuries around 15% higher. Whenever statistical accounts of the accidents occurring in the Scottish construction industry are published they are often accompanied by expressions of dismay and conjecture in many quarters as to why its performance lags this far behind other parts of GB.
Research just published, Factors Influencing Scottish Construction Accidents, a product of detailed analysis of incidents reported to HSE and Labour Force Survey data conducted by the University of Warwick's Institute of Employment Research, points to the differing make-up of the construction workforce in Scotland as the principal reason¹ for the disparity.
The report was prepared by  BOMEL Ltd, Glasgow Caledonian University and the Institute for Employment Research.

¹ From the report - 'the most significant factor in apparently higher rates of accidents and fatalities in the sector in Scotland was the differing occupational make-up of the construction workforce in Scotland, and that the incidence of manual employment among employees in the Scottish construction industry is 10% higher than that observed in the rest of Great Britain.'

Comment:
"It is important that we understand why accidents happen and then develop strategies to reduce them. In helping us better understand the higher Scottish rates of the past, this research has also provided valuable insights into the risks associated with different occupations and trades in construction. But this useful explanation does not mean we can sit back: it will help us focus the priorities of the HSE's Construction Programme in Scotland and across Great Britain." - HSE Director for Scotland.