Grant Prior | Thu 13th May | 9:10

The number of deaths on construction sites has fallen for the third year in succession to the lowest level on record.

Official statistics released by the Health and Safety Executive in June are expected to show that 35 people died in the industry during the 12 months to April 2010.

HSE experts are currently finalising figures but provisional data shows a significant drop on the 53 deaths in 2008/9 and  72 in 2007/8.

A reduction in workloads has helped bring the number of fatalities down. But the industry has also made great strides in improving safety.

One safety director told the Enquirer: “The industry now is almost unrecognisable from ten years ago in terms of safety.

“Back then death rates were running in the hundreds but now safety is the number one priority with most contractors.

“There is still a rump of firms who cut corners and accidents do still unfortunately happen on site but the industry has come on leaps and bounds.”

Safety standards have improved massively across the industry