Those working in the construction sector are perceived as having the worst attitudes towards workplace health and safety, according to 37% of health and safety professionals.
New research, conducted by RRC International, a leading provider of occupational health and safety training, found that nearly two fifths of health and safety professionals identified the construction sector as having the poorest attitude to health and safety. This was followed by the manufacturing industry (12.93%) and then agriculture, forestry and fishing (5.17%).
According to data from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the construction sector consistently reports a high number of fatal injuries, with a rate of 2.4 per 100,000 workers in 2023/24. This is 5 times higher than any other industry. The data also showed that 470,000 people suffered non-fatal injuries on construction sites over the past three years. This is more than 150,000 per year.
Richard Stockley, Managing Director at RRC International, comments: “What these official figures don’t account for is the injuries employers were not obligated to report, and those businesses that failed to follow the correct procedure. The actual number is said to be as much as ten times higher. This makes our findings even more shocking, and acts as a strong reminder to all those working within the construction industry that health and safety on site must be the number one priority, no matter what.”
According to the research, the manufacturing industry has the second worst attitude to health and safety, as ranked by industry professionals. This is troubling given it experiences a substantial number of workplace injuries, particularly involving machinery and heavy equipment. In 2023/24, 16 fatal injuries to workers were reported.
Third on the list was agriculture, including forestry and fishing, with more than 5% of health and safety professionals ranking the sector as the poorest when it comes to industry best practices. Due to the nature of the work, often performed in remote locations, and with heavy machinery and livestock, agriculture has unique health and safety challenges making it one of the most hazardous industries to work in.
Richard Stockley, Managing Director at RRC International, concludes: “It’s deeply concerning that industries with inherently high-risk environments are perceived to have the poorest attitudes towards health and safety.
“A negative attitude towards health and safety training, and the policies and measures in place to ensure worker safety, can have a devastating impact in the workplace. It not only increases the risk of serious injuries and fatalities, but also creates a culture where safety is not prioritised or taken seriously.
“While the majority of companies in these sectors are undoubtedly committed to their worker’s safety, these findings indicate a need for increased awareness, training and proactive measures to foster a stronger safety culture.”
Find out more about RRC and its health and safety courses.
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