Migrants twice as likely to die at work

Published on Monday 18 May 2009 22:02

MIGRANT workers were more likely to be killed in workplace accidents than UK employees, with construction having the worst record for their safety, according to a new report published today.

Research by the Centre for Corporate Accountability showed that migrant construction workers were at least twice as likely to die at work than those from the UK.

A total of 12 migrant workers died in construction-related incidents in 2007-8, a fifth of the total number of fatalities, the study found.

Colin Ettinger, an expert in workplace injuries at law firm Irwin Mitchell, which published the findings, said: "These figures are a matter of considerable concern.

"Every employer has a duty to ensure staff are able to work safely, wherever they're employed.

"It's a real worry to see that people coming to the UK to work are at more risk of injury or, even worse, being killed than their UK colleagues."