Great Yarmouth Construction Tragedy Underlines Safety Dangers

Construction UCATT are calling on the Government to reverse planned cuts in the Health and Safety Executive’s budget following the accident in Great Yarmouth on Friday 21st January, which resulted in the death of four workers.

It is understood that the four workers were working in foundations below ground when adjacent steelwork fell on them.

Last year it was announced that the HSE would see its budget cut by at least 35% by 2015 as part of the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review. It is inconceivable that such a level of cuts can be made without reducing frontline services. Since the cuts were announced the HSE have already confirmed that it will not be renewing the contracts of 24 temporary construction inspectors, when their contracts expire in June 2011.


The number of inspections, enforcement activity and prosecutions undertaken by the HSE, have been declining for a decade.

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of construction union UCATT, said: "This is a terrible tragedy and it is devastating for the workers families and for the community where they lived.

"Construction is the most dangerous industry in Britain. Sadly, it is likely that fatalities will increase as a result of a cuts in the HSE, and the recovery in construction resulting in new inexperienced companies and workers, entering the industry."

Brian Rye, Regional Secretary of UCATT Eastern Region, said: "Sadly, there has recently been a surge in construction deaths in Eastern England. Everyone involved in the construction industry must work far harder to ensure that such tragic accidents are not continually repeated."

(CD/GK)