St John Ambulance (Northern Ireland) is urging construction firms to get off on the right foot in 2012 by ensuring their employees have the correct health and safety and first aid training.

In the construction industry alone in Great Britain 2009/10, 52 people died due to fatal injuries. This is highest number of fatal injuries within all the main industry groups.

In addition, during the period 2010/11 in the construction industry in Northern Ireland there was 1 fatal injury, 57 major injuries and 196 injuries that resulted in employees taking more than three days off work.

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The most common accidents within the construction industry include slips and trips, cuts from building materials, crush injuries, welding injuries and falls from height.

Christopher Murdock, Training Director St John Ambulance, Northern Ireland said: "Health and safety and first aid in your workplace are more than just legal requirements. As these statistics prove, this training can be the difference between life and death,."

St John Ambulance has eight venues throughout Northern Ireland where the organisation delivers training. These are located in Belfast, Ballymena, Coleraine, Enniskillen, L/Derry, Omagh, Portadown and Newry.

(CD/GK)