The UK construction industry is one of the most dangerous industries in the UK in respect of
health and safety (H&S). Although statistics indicate a trend of H&S improvement in the
industry, the industry still accounts for numerous deaths, injuries, dangerous occurrences and
work related illnesses (Health and Safety Executive [HSE], 2011a). These H&S outcomes
associated with construction accidents impose a huge cost on the industry (Pearce, 2003) and
for the over two million construction workforce (ONS, 2011) all of whom are at risk, and
indeed the wider society this is clearly unacceptable.