Definition of Terms
Health: Refers to the well-being of people within and without the
construction site. It can also be can be financial, contractual, operational,
and environmental.
Safety: refers to the condition of being protected, or safe, from hazards and
other undesirable events
It can also refer to how safe or protected against
harmful events a building or structure is when it is in use. This can be in
relation to extreme weather, earthquakes, security, operational or hazards,
and so on.
Risk: A construction risk can be defined as any exposure to possible loss.
Because every construction project is different, each offers a multitude of
varying risks. To ensure the success of a project, a contractor starting on a
construction project must be able to recognize and assess those risks. And
then the contractor must be able to manage those risks. Risk can be
financial, contractual, operational, and environmental and can be caused by
both internal and external sources.
Hazard: a condition with the potential to cause
physical impairment or health consequences in people or other types of life.
A hazard is anything that could cause harm. And, risk, is a combination of two
things – the chance that the hazard will cause harm and how serious that harm
could be
What is workplace health and safety in construction?
Workplace health and safety (WHS) is a set of principles and practices
that show us how to manage the health and safety risks that workers,
customers, and the public (visitors, suppliers, etc.) might face in the
workplace. In the construction sector, these practices aim to eliminate risks
on construction sites such as:
Fire and explosions
Skin hazards
Handling heavy objects
Handling chemical substances
Defective equipment
Electric shock
Fall from heights
Dust inhalation
Faulty equipment
Elevated noise levels etc.
In the high-risk environment of the construction industry, it is
essential to create a strong health and safety culture that will
ensure safe working conditions for everyone involved.
Importance of health & safety in construction
1. The reason we identify risks and hazards is to keep staff out of
harm’s way. Not only your staff but anyone who sets foot in your work
environment.
2. It decreases the risk of injuries to the public, but it also reduces the
risk of work-related injuries and accidents
3. Stay compliant: This is a legal responsibility under health & safety
legislation. Safety is a requirement in construction, it’s enforced by the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). A proactive
approach to safety will help you avoid fines and other penalties.
4. Respond more quickly to incidents: Incidents can happen even in
controlled environments. Having processes already established and
proper safety equipment readily available help workers perform a
quicker response to limit damage and injury.
5. Preserve your bottom line: Construction accidents can cause costly
damage to property and equipment. Creating and maintaining a safe
work environment will help you avoid incidents, keeping profits higher
and protecting your reputation.
6. It can affect attendance and morale of workers in the site. With
employees off because of injury, and their coworkers scared or
disgruntled at this, you will have a far less productive site. If the
enforcing authorities found you to be breaking this, you can face fines,
a damaged reputation and even prison sentences.
This is important in every workspace, but it’s particularly important
when managing a construction project.
Health & safety hazards/risks in the construction industry
There are countless health & safety risks in a construction environment, here
are just a few of them:
Working at height: Falling off a ladder, scaffolding, ledge, piece of
aerial equipment or another high location can quickly turn to a
hazard.
Slip, trip and fall hazards: Construction workers often have to
work on wet, dirty and uneven surfaces and move around obstacles,
increasing the risk of slips, trips and falls.
Moving hazards: Construction uses some of the largest, most
heavy-duty equipment. It can be challenging for operators to see
workers on the ground, creating a risk for injury.
Noise: Job sites are noisy places filled with activity, often featuring
loud tools and heavy machinery. Prolonged exposure to excessive
noise can lead to long-term hearing loss.
Vibrating tools and machinery: Exposure to prolonged vibrations
can lead to Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome, a permanent condition
affecting the nerves, blood vessels and joints.
Collapses: Falling earth and debris pose serious safety hazards to
anyone caught underneath. People working in trenches or buildings
that collapse can be seriously hurt or killed.
Material handling: Workers often move tools, equipment and
material around work sites. Moving heavy loads with improper
handling techniques can lead to muscle and joint injuries.
Breathing hazards: Construction sites often have poor air quality.
Dangerous airborne hazards are common, including chemical fumes
and the dust kicked up from people and machinery.
Electricity: Electricity is one of the top health and safety risks in
construction. Common sources of direct and indirect exposure
include faulty tools, improper wiring and damaged insulation.
Working with/around hazardous materials.
Dust and silica exposure.
With the sheer number of issues on a construction site, managing health and
safety procedures may seem like an overwhelming task. So where do you
begin?
A good place to start, especially if you’re unfamiliar with them, is to look at
the health & safety regulations that are in place to help you manage your
workplace.
Categories of hazards/risks
These can be categorized into:
1. Minor risks.
2. Major risks.
3. Welfare risks.
When overseeing health and & safety in construction, it’s important to
differentiate between a risk that could be harmful and one that can
cause loss of life. These are the minor risks and the major risks.
An example of a major risk would be working at height. This is because a fall
could cause serious injury or death. Fire safety and working with dangerous
substances are also good examples.
On the other side of the spectrum, we have issues such as manual handling.
This can result in significant injury but poses a much smaller risk. It also
depends on where the activity is taking place. If workers are attempting to
undertake manual handling near machinery, or at a height, then the risk is
elevated.
What about long-term risks?
Not all hazards have an immediate effect.
Manual handling can eventually result in musculoskeletal disorders. Using
vibrating tools can result in hand-arm vibration syndrome.
Loud noises can cause hearing loss or even total deafness.
It’s absolutely vital you take steps to reduce these risks as well as the ones
that pose an immediate threat.
Finally, while it may seem less pressing than the immediate physical risks,
it’s also important to consider the mental health of your workers.
One efficient way to manage mental wellbeing is to implement an employee
assistance programme.
