HSE отказалась от целевых мер по снижению смертности среди пожилых строителей

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has ruled out targeted action to prevent deaths of older construction workers. In 10 of out of 35 construction fatalities in 2024/25, the person who died was aged 60 and above, according to the latest published figures. At the organisation’s annual general meeting, directors were asked by an online viewer, whose name was not stated, if it was considering the issue. “Workers aged 60 and over accounted for a third of workplace fatalities last year. What targeted action is HSE considering for sectors such as construction that have an ageing workforce?” they asked. Rick Brunt, the HSE’s engagement and policy division director, said age was not the most important factor in the deaths. “It’s an interesting question and it almost assumes that age in itself is a risk. I don’t believe that it is.” He said the numbers were increasing because the workforce was ageing. “People are living and working longer. The key point from a workplace health and safety point of view is the same as it would be for any other characteristic that may make someone more vulnerable – it is for the employer to make an assessment and adjustments. “Age is a factor but it’s a recognition of a societal position where we’re all getting older. [We should be] making sure that we adapt accordingly in our risk assessments, which is the absolute principle of health and safety regulation, and health and safety in your workplace.” As of 2023, around 24 per cent of construction workers were over 55, up from around 13 per cent in 2000, according to the Construction Industry Training Board. The training body said in a report earlier this year that the average age of a construction worker was now “over 42 and climbing”. HSE statistics show that those aged 60 and older made up 40 out of 126 workplace deaths across all industries in 2025/26. The year before, they accounted for 49 of 124 fatalities. Elsewhere at the AGM, Brunt said it would be “a couple of months” before the HSE would publish a response to a consultation on whether RIDDOR reporting requirements need to be updated. He said there had been many responses to the consultation, which closed on 7 July, adding “please be patient, we’ve got a lot of information to get through”.