THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH & SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH & SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION

Construction is an inherently dangerous profession. Construction workers are exposed to different risks daily - from minor scrapes to severe injuries. Thus, people working in construction should observe proper health and safety practices. In addition, local governments have imposed many regulations to minimise danger in construction.

In this article, let's take a closer look at the importance of health and safety in construction.

Helps Keep Employees Safe

The construction sector is one of the most dangerous of all occupations. According to the HSE Statistics, there's an average of 37 deaths per year in construction over the past five years. Most accidents on the construction site are due to trips, slips, and falls. Some were injured while lifting, handling, and falling from a height on site. This figure emphasises the importance of safety in construction.

Given the ever-changing environment in construction, workers often need to work at a height, operate large machinery, handle heavy loads, and work with dangerous materials. By implementing proper health and safety measures and ensuring that workers are aware of these measures, employers can significantly reduce the risks involved in working in these conditions.

The construction industry is responsible for a third of fatal injuries happening in the workplace and 10% of other major workrelated injuries. Injuries and death usually occur due to workers falling from a height, getting struck by moving objects or being crushed by machinery.

Construction workers are also at risk for work-related illnesses, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, vibration white finger, and occupational deafness. These conditions are often due to vibrating tools, inhaling dust and dangerous chemicals, and exposure to loud noises for long periods. Although we cannot totally prevent accidents, they can be minimised if we ensure proper health and safety measures on all construction sites.

Helps Keep Others Safe

The construction managers are not only responsible for protecting their workforce. They must also ensure the safety and well-being of the people passing the construction site and those that live nearby. If they will not enforce health and safety measures on the construction site, dangers could occur, which will not only put the safety of the construction workers at risk but that of the public as well. Construction dangers can affect passers-by in the same way as they affect the workers, which is why proper measures should be put in place and followed by everyone.

One way construction managers can ensure public safety on construction sites is by managing access to the site. You should clearly define site boundaries and install suitable fencing. Installing a fence can prevent the public from entering the site and keep construction materials from escaping. Some of the main hazards for passers-by are falling objects, scaffolding, and storing materials. Ensure that the materials from your site will not fall outside the site boundary. You can install netting or attach toeboards on scaffolds. Workers must always look at the surroundings when assembling and dismantling scaffolds to ensure no people are nearby. Avoid stacking or storing materials outside the construction site to prevent the likelihood of someone tripping.

Make sure all materials are kept within the parameter of the construction site, if possible, in secure compounds. When handling hazardous chemicals, make sure that you keep this away from the site parameter. In the same way, keep a close eye on the amount of dust leaving your site and landing in other areas.

Can Affect the Profitability of the Business

If construction managers fail to address the issue of health and safety by not implementing proper health and safety measures, the business can stand the risk of losing revenue. Aside from affecting business profitability, many other issues can result if construction companies will not prioritise health and safety.

A construction business could waste significant working hours and productivity if they don't implement health and safety measures, eventually affecting business profitability. If health and safety measures are not adhered to, workers could get sick. As a result, the time they will spend at work will further be reduced, and so as productivity.

Businesses can also face legal consequences if they fail to implement and maintain proper health and safety measures, which could cost them a lot of money. Furthermore, businesses will have to pay hefty penalties for failure to abide by the health and safety regulations. More severe cases could lead to the closure of the business. And if an employee or passers-by got injured, they could be sued, which could further cost the company lot of money.

Some construction companies may also have their accreditations and memberships from industry bodies confiscated for failure to follow the law on health and safety.

How To Keep Up with Health and Safety

Keeping up with health and safety is essential no matter how big or small your construction business is. If you have employees working on construction sites, you should implement proper health and safety and educate your workers about it. Thankfully, there are plenty of construction relevant health and safety courses online. With online training, you don't have to let your workers undergo actual training onsite since they can take it wherever and whenever they want to. Since it's convenient for them, they no longer have any reason not to attend the training.

One of the main reasons health and safety training is necessary is because the law requires it. The health and safety at Work Act, introduced in 1974, is a piece of legislation requiring employers to take reasonable and practical steps to ensure the health and safety of their employees at work.

Not adhering to the health and safety law can lead to severe consequences. The UK government has a zero-tolerance approach against companies that don't abide by the law. The hefty penalties could affect the company's financial security, resulting in bankruptcy and closure. Aside from the financial burden, breaking the health and safety law could result in a criminal prosecution that can affect the company's reputation. n