Four Reasons Why Safety Matters in Construction
Date Posted: December 20, 2019
Posted In: Ideas, Workforce,
From OH&S: When it comes to identifying the most hazardous occupations in the USA, working in construction ranks very high on the list. Responsible for 20 percent of work-related deaths in 2013, the construction industry is known to pose several risks for workers in the sector. It is typical for construction workers to perform their duties off-site or in remote and isolated locations. Not to mention, heavy machinery and equipment are regularly used to perform day to day jobs.
For these reasons, and several more, thousands of construction workers are injured on the job each year, many of whom will never be able to work again due to the severity of their injuries. When it comes down to it, the construction industry is extremely high-risk and therefore requires employers to execute appropriate, ongoing safety measures. In this article, we will point out three main reasons why your construction company should not take safety lightly.
1. The “Fatal Four”
Working in construction creates a very high risk for falling from a height, being struck by an object, electrocution, and getting caught or crushed by heavy machinery. These industry risks are commonly known as the “fatal four.” According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the fatal four were responsible for 57.7 percent of fatalities that occurred in the construction industry in 2013. These risks are even more prevalent for those employees who work alone.
In the construction industry, falls pose the greatest threat to workers. According to EHS Today, this aspect of the fatal four accounts for 37 to 57.7 percent of construction-related fatalities. Furthermore, OSHA reported that in 2010, 402 deaths were due to employees being struck by objects. Lastly, working with or near power lines is hugely hazardous. A tool could explode into liquefied gas in an instant, emitting temperatures up to 19,000 degrees Celsius. Construction workers are incredibly susceptible to burns and other electrical risks in this environment. The last hazard in the fatal four, becoming stuck or lodged, often occurs when construction workers are trenching, as cave-ins are common, and employees can quickly become trapped.