As many people are killed on construction sites throughout the world each year as die as a result of armed conflict, according to the International Labour Organisation.

According to the ILO, at least 60,000 people are killed every year on construction sites – one death every 10 minutes, and approximately the same as the number of soldiers and civilians killed through state-based armed conflict each year, over the past decade.

The ILO said that the construction industry accounts for almost one in 5 of all fatal workplace accidents.

Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide also suffer serious injuries and ill-health through working in construction. The main causes of death and injury are falls, crushes, impacts and electrocution. Common health problems include deafness, musculoskeletal disorders and exposure to hazardous substances such as solvents and asbestos.

To help tackle these problems, the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety & Health (NEBOSH) has launched a new qualification that it said will raise standards of health and safety in the worldwide construction industry.

The NEBOSH International Certificate in Construction Health & Safety is designed specifically for supervisors and managers working in construction anywhere in the world.

The British based examinations body says that almost a third of all NEBOSH examinations are now taken outside of the United Kingdom. The number of overseas NEBOSH candidates rose by 17% last year and growth was particularly strong in Asia, up 76%, and Africa, up 63%.

In Britain, there is an industry-specific NEBOSH Certificate qualification available for those working in the construction industry – the National Certificate in Construction Health and Safety. This has been used as a framework for the International Construction Certificate.

Teresa Budworth, NEBOSH chief executive, said: "Construction work leads to far too many deaths worldwide every year. We hope our qualification will help to raise health and safety standards wherever the industry operates."

More information about the International Certificate in Construction Health and Safety can be found on the NEBOSH website at www.nebosh.org.uk.