Is Construction The Deadliest Sector In India?

India’s construction industry is too lax about following safety norms

As India experiences a rise in incomes and growth of its urban areas, the construction industry has also witnessed a major boom in the recent years. Un-fortunately, construction in India has some of the world’s worst safety standards. Every year thousands of workers fall to their deaths, are electrocuted or buried under rubble, making construction the deadliest sector in India. Industry’s research has shown that there are on an average 38 fatal accidents a day. They include falls from height, falling walls, electrocutions and scaffolding.

In Britain, in 2017/2018, there were 147 fatalities overall (source: Health and Safety Executive). Whereas in India, workplace deaths are 20 times higher than in the UK, which suggests that India could learn valuable lessons from Britain where the health and safety record of the construction industry has significantly improved in recent years.