Construction Accidents Rise As Recession Bites

Added: (Thu Aug 19 2010)

Pressbox (Press Release) - Key Performance Indicators for the Construction Industry in the UK show that since the recession took hold of the construction sector, there is a concerning rise in the number of people who experience a construction accident whilst at work. Hidden behind the statistic of over 900 construction accidents per 100,000 workers, are the individuals who have had an accident and for whom life can be changed dramatically, announces 100%Compensation.

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Although historically the health and safety performance of the construction industry was steadily improving, since 2007 and the recession began to bite the construction industry, the number of construction accidents has been on the rise. Each one of these accidents is a person who has paid a human cost.

Glenigan, the information/data provider behind the health and safety indicators presented in 2010, revealed that towards the end of 2006, there were less than 800 construction accidents per 100,000 workers, but that this has increased to over 900 per 100,000.

Although further research is required to elicit the real reasons for the rise in accidents, the recession is undoubtedly a cause. Construction has really suffered at the hands of the recession and firms are now having to bid lower and lower simply to secure work.

Often this means that corners have to be cut and as a result health and safety, which is often quite time consuming, can seem a luxury that cannot be afforded. It is little wonder that there is a rise in accidents. People are so worried about losing their jobs that they will take risks and the result is more people having a construction accident.

The Human Cost of Construction Accidents

Although these figures are sobering reading, they do not paint a true picture of what life is like for anyone who has suffered a construction accident. At 100%Compensation, we see people daily for whom life has been shattered, simply because they turned up to work, trying to provide for their families. Yet when they suffer an accident, they often find that financial worries are great, that they have little in the way of support when they are recuperating and there is often a reluctance to obtain compensation because there is a fear that they will end up out of work.

Given that the person has already suffered an accident, to then have financial stresses and real fears about the future all through no fault of their own seems a double injustice. But those who keep quiet and do not seek compensation are in a sense compounding the risk of another accident happening to someone else.

Each construction accident that is hushed up and no action is taken, leads the employer to think that they don’t need to worry about health and safety. After all, nothing happened the last time that there was a construction accident, so there is no need to worry. This puts all workers at risk from more accidents and until all those who have suffered a construction accident take action to put a stop to unsafe working practices, then unfortunately the construction industry will remain a very unsafe place. Moreover, if the recession holds, it could become even more unsafe.

100%Compensation are experts in ensuring that people who have experienced a construction accident are able to exact compensation, thus making the construction industry a safer environment for all.

For further details of legal redress and compensation for construction industry accidents, please contact the experts, 100%Compensation for free on: 0800 197 85 67.