Health and safety are crucial components of almost every workplace, but these are the matter of life and death within the construction sector. The construction industry has a poor health and safety record as the rate of fatality is extremely high in such environments.
There are nearly 40 deaths in construction work sites including 81,000 other work-related injuries, accidents, or ill health occurrences. These stats emphasize the importance of managing health, safety, and wellness within this sector.
So, this blog post will explain what is health and safety in construction and how individuals can manage it in a better way at work.
The Importance of Health & Safety at Construction Sites
Every job comes with at least some level of risk; however, some sectors are more prone to dangers than others, and the construction work environment is one of them. Health and safety processes play a significant role in managing and eradicating these risks.
Along with this, health and safety legislation require employers to take reasonable actions and steps to protect their staff.
Companies must have suitable approaches to ensure safety, however, below are the key reasons why safety and health in construction are essential:
1. The High Number of Health & Safety Risks in Construction Workplaces
Working on a construction site is not an easy job to do. It is highly dangerous due to the countless risks and hazards of building sites.
Ranging from working at heights, heavy loads, falling objects, vehicle overturning, slips, trips, or falls injuries, electrical burns, or shocks, operating highly dangerous machinery, and working with hazardous or chemical substances, the list of health and safety dangers goes on. Other risks may include hot work hazards, coronavirus, or hazardous dust.
This requires employers to have the best safety and health practices and processes within their workplaces so that they can protect their workforce.
Regular workplace risk assessments must be conducted so that a robust health and safety environment can be created.
2. The Legal Duty to Protect the Businesses & Workers
Along with the health and safety risks, an unsafe building is a liability risk as well. Construction companies or safety managers not adhering to the safety legislation can put themselves in serious legal claims. The businesses could be fined, sued, or even banned permanently from operating. It will also harm their reputation within the sector.
Effective & Simple Ways to Improve Safety on a Construction Site
Below are some effective tips to increase and improve health and safety at building sites:
1. Have an Effective Health & Safety Strategy
Like all other industries, construction work and projects also require an effective health and safety plan. It should cover all the key elements associated with the project and highlight the area of key concerns. This will help employers and workers develop a systematic approach to minimize the risk of accidents and injuries at work.
2. Provide Sufficient Training to Reduce the Risks
Adequate health and safety training to lessen the chances of health risks go hand in hand. Employers must provide necessary training sessions to the employees and construction workers to make them competent for work.
These could be construction risk assessment training, working at height training, IOSH Safety Health and Environment for Construction Site Managers, electrical safety training, slips, trips, and falls training, industrial health, and safety training, lifting and loading training, manual handling training, and any other relevant information or guidance.
3. Provide the Adequate Tools & Equipment for Work
The right tools, equipment, and machinery provided at work can make the job easy for the workers and prevent them from minor to major accidents. All the work equipment should be assessed for its suitability and safety so that it may not pose any harm to its worker.
Properly maintained equipment is also a great and efficient way to do the work fast and minimize the risks.
4. Encourage the Use of Personal Protective Equipment
Employers providing suitable gear and personal protective equipment to their workers can save them from severe hazards and injuries. The PPE act as a strong tool for protecting eyes, skin, mouth, and body from hazardous substances or materials.
Therefore, the use and importance of personal protective equipment can never be neglected.
Bottom Line
Health and safety hazard can occur at any time and any place. But when it comes to construction work, this industry does not have a good statistical record. The fatality rate is high and can become worse if employers and managers do not take proper actions and care for the well-being of their staff members and workers.
This piece of content is a thorough explanation of why are health and safety so important in construction industries. It also explains how employers can involve their workers in the process to ensure they are all working in a safe and secure work environment.
