Unite, the UK’s construction union, is calling for a full joint investigation to be carried out by the employer with the involvement of trade unions, following a fatal accident at a HS2 site in the West Midlands.

HS2 tragedy

On Thursday 27 April a man in his early 70s was seriously injured on the Balfour Beatty Vinci (BBV) joint venture site in Solihull. Despite the swift attention of the emergency services, he later died in hospital.

Tragic circumstances

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said “All our thoughts and sympathy are with the worker’s family, who have lost a loved one in such tragic circumstances.

“Safety is always a paramount issue for Unite and it is absolutely essential that the full facts of this tragedy are fully established in a transparent manner.”

Workforce reassurance 

Unite national officer for construction Jerry Swain said: “After such a tragic accident there will of course be an official investigation by the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) but these can often be slow and it may not conclude and issue its findings for some considerable time.

“In the meantime BBV will be conducting its own investigation and Unite believes that this must be conducted jointly with the union. It is only by working collectively together that we can discover what occurred, learn from this tragedy, and provide the workforce with reassurance and confidence that everything is being done to protect their safety.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite senior communications officer Barckley Sumner on 07802 329235 or 0203 371 2067.

Email: [email protected]

Unite is the UK and Ireland’s leading union fighting to protect and advance jobs, pay and conditions for members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.