There's a flip side to the success story of booming construction in emerging markets such as India. At the moment, construction is the most dangerous industry in India, recording the world's highest accident rate among workers. Yet while construction labor accounts for just 7.5% of India's workforce, it suffers 16.4% of fatal occupational accidents, according to government data.
Risky Business Recent fatalities at Metro Rail sites in Chennai and Mumbai have turned the spotlight on safety. Legislative measures to protect workers include the Building and Other Construction Workers Act, 1996; the Building and Other Construction Workers Central Rules, 1998; and the Workmen's Compensation Act, as well as the creation of the Welfare Board, notes R.K. Elangovan, director-in-charge of the Regional Labor Institute, Chennai.