India’s construction sector—the nation’s second-largest employer after agriculture—accounts for nearly 24% of all workplace fatalities, with an estimated 11,614 deaths annually out of 48,000 total work-related fatalities. A 2016 study by NIT Surat and IIT Delhi highlights that the predominantly unorganised labour force faces acute risks due to inadequate safety measures and training.
In stark contrast, the UK reported just 30 construction-related deaths in 2018/19, backed by robust legal frameworks such as the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM). These regulations mandate comprehensive risk assessments, enforceable duties on clients, designers, and contractors, and criminal penalties for non-compliance—resulting in £19 million in fines during 2017–18. British employers are further bound by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2012, ensuring protection against exposure to dusts, vapours, and gases.
“Hemant Sethi, Country Head of the British Safety Council India, warns that India must adopt a similar culture of accountability,” says Sethi, emphasizing that leadership at every organisational level is critical for embedding safety as a daily priority. He advocates for mandatory incident reporting, investment in worker training, and the appointment of dedicated safety champions to drive a long-overdue shift in attitudes and practices across India’s construction landscape.
