What are the top 10 safety risks in construction?
The construction industry accident fatality rate is more than double the average for all other industries. With a constantly changing environment, construction sites can be a health and safety danger zone, putting workers at risk for serious and deadly accidents. Accidents happen daily with the most common including these top 10 safety risks:
- Working at height – The construction industry frequently requires employees to work at height and height-related accidents account for many injuries and/or fatalities every year. The risks of accidents from working at height are increased due to access and mobility restrictions. It is important that personal protective equipment (PPE) and training are utilized for anyone working at height.
- Moving objects – Construction sites are hectic and constantly changing; overhead lifting equipment, supply vehicles, people coming and going, moving vehicles-some of which are immense, material transportation, all over uneven terrain can make getting struck by a moving object quite common.
- Slips, trips, and falls – Holes, buildings at various stages of completion, stacked construction materials, scaffolding, ladders, and wet surfaces all pose hazards for slips, trips, and falls.
- Noise – Repetitive, excessive noise can cause hearing loss and often simple earplugs are not enough to stave off hearing problems. Employers are required to provide appropriate PPE to their employees.
- Hand/arm vibration syndrome – “Blue finger” as it is sometimes referred to is a painful and debilitating condition that affects the blood vessels, nerves, and joints after prolonged use of vibratory tools.
- Material and manual handling – Materials are constantly being moved on construction sites, either manually or by the use of lifting equipment. When an employee is tasked with moving objects on the job site, they must be properly trained to do so safely to avoid injuries to themselves or others.
- Collapse – Every year trenches and excavations collapse, burying, injuring, and killing the people working in them.
- Asbestos – Many people erroneously believe that asbestos is a thing of the past. While harmless in its undisturbed state, when asbestos is disturbed at a job site it puts workers at serious risk for a multitude of diseases including Mesothelioma and various forms of cancer.
- Airborne hazards – The nature of construction naturally kicks up a lot of dust and other airborne debris. This often invisible, fine, toxic mixture of hazardous fibers and materials can damage the lungs and lead to long-term diseases such as COPD, silicosis, and asthma.
- Electricity – Overhead power lines and cables, working with electricity around wet conditions, and employees carrying out electrical work who are not qualified all put construction workers at risk for serious injuries and death.
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