Rise in construction deaths prompts graphic safety ad campaign from Health and Safety Authority

The rising rate of deaths and serious injuries in the construction sector — which has the potential to worsen as the sector continues to grow — has prompted the Health and Safety Authority to launch a hard-hitting new safety awareness campaign.

The HSA has created a television advert which will run on channels on both terrestrial and satellite television channels from today.

It will show a “graphic” depiction of the typical tools used on construction sites placed alongside those used by medical professionals. The HSA said the latter are the types of tools nobody ever wants to get close to in real life.

Michael McDonagh, the HSA’s head of construction policy, said in the five-year period from 2010 to the end of 2014, 39 people died in construction-related activity.

“This was in the context of a major recession which saw a huge decline in construction activity. I am very concerned at the projected number of deaths over the coming years if current trends continue,” he said.

“The construction industry is primed for growth and we are seeing many new projects at planning stage. I n this context it is vital that we are proactive in raising awareness of the high levels of risk on construction sites and influencing attitudes and behaviours among construction workers.”

The HSA pointed out that the rate of deaths in construction fell sharply from 7.4 per 100,000 workers in 2004 to 4.1 in 2010, a period which encompassed the boom and bust. However, from 2010 onwards, despite the remaining impact of the recession, the rate increased steadily to 9.4 deaths per 100,000 workers in 2013.

The HSA said: “Construction workers need to always work safely or they risk getting up close and personal with tools of a different kind…the kind used by medical professionals.”