Sinn Féin call for industry to take action over construction site deaths
Sinn Féin health spokesperson, John O'Dowd MLA, has called for a greater focus on deaths in the construction industry after the Health and Safety Executive revealed that workers in the north were 3 times more likely to be killed on site ion the Six Counties than in Britain.
Mr O'Dowd said:
"Last year seven people lost their lives while working on construction sites. This year four people have been killed as a result of workplace accidents.
"Serious construction site accidents often occur as a result of hazards that are well known to the industry and more than 50% of on-site accidents are due to falls when working at heights.
"I very much welcome the intensive inspection campaign announced by the HSE but there is a heavy responsibility on the industry to ensure that it operates the highest safety standards and that shortcuts are not taken that put the lives of workers at risk." ENDS