The construction industry is one of the most dangerous industries in the world. Handling heavy equipment on uneven surfaces and working on heights is a challenging task. Even a small mistake can lead to fatal destruction and loss of life. The industry has seen such events throughout the time, the workers faced hazardous outcomes. The agriculture and hunting construction industry experienced the most workplace deaths according to the National Safety Council. It is an alarming situation for the industry and needs to rectify such practices. There are several that require prompt changes on both safety and preventive measures sides. Thus, it is unavoidable to understand the risk lies in the heavy construction machines operating. Identifying the root causes and taking preventive measures is important for improving the overall safety on the construction side.
In this blog, we will try to cover the primary reasons behind the on-site accidents that occurred in construction. Also, what preventive measures should the industry take on an immediate basis?
Why Is the Construction Industry Among the Most Dangerous for Workers?
Occupational Safety and Health and National Occupational Research (OSHA), the construction industry is among the highest industries for worker deaths and fatalities. There are more than one thousand construction injustices reported each year in the U.S. and one in five construction worker deaths account annually. These stats are only for U.S. construction sites. If we examine and research the whole of Europe the results would be shocking. Therefore, there is an urgent need to adopt such policies and practices that at least save the worker from injuries. If we compare construction with other industries like Mining and transportation construction machines workers four times more suffer in accidents.
What Are the Main Causes of Accidents in Construction?
In industry the most frequent cause of construction machines work injuries is falls. Falls may occur when workers step sideways or backward without seeing or utilizing the staircase without guardrails. If protective measures against falls are inadequate or completely lacking at a construction site, the outcome can be disastrous. Also in 2012, based on a report by OSHA, 78 workers in the U.S. who worked in the construction industry died after being hit by an object, usually a tool or bit of heavy equipment.
In this scenario, proper training and the accurate operation of machinery and equipment could have prevented most of those 78 fatalities.
Electrocution
Electrocution can happen on a construction site when a person, a tool, or a piece of equipment comes into contact with exposed electrical sources or power lines.
Construction site electrocutions most often happen when workers do not know about all of the energized power sources at their location. Also sometimes, workers are so focused on their tasks, that they don’t realize that they may be in danger of being crushed, squeezed, caught, compressed, or pinched between two or more pieces of equipment or machinery or against a wall or a floor.
Hazards of Falling Objects and Moving Equipment
Any worker is at risk of being struck by falling tools, building materials, or pieces of debris from an elevated work area. Similarly, heavy machinery like cranes, forklifts, and excavators can inadvertently hit workers in case of a failure to implement proper safeguards.
Moving vehicles on-site, like trucks and loaders, also represents a risk, especially in the areas limited in visibility. Those injuries can cause severe traumas, like fractures, and concussions, or may lead to death if some strength underpins the impact.
Risks of Being Trapped
Such accidents happen when laborers get entangled in mobile machinery, become trapped in trenches, or are crushed by falling materials or structures. Typical causes of such accidents include inadequate reinforcement of trenches, machinery without guards, and noncompliance with lockout protocols. Laborers could also become entrapped between loads or wedged against walls or barriers. With no safety measures in place, such accidents might result in major injuries like amputations, asphyxia, or deadly crushing injuries.
What Should Be Prevention Strategies?
Carefully following the rules of OSHA
This one can not be overlooked at any cost, anyone who is working in construction machines should know the safety rules. It is important not only to be familiar with them but also to strictly follow them to save owners and fellow workers. Maintaining a clean, organized job site to reduce hazards is also an essential step toward reducing accidents.
Utilizing the Safety Gadgets
Most contractors and workers, although possessing the safety tools and instruments, still do not wear them on site. The management and supervisor make sure that every worker on the site uses safety gadgets like helmets, eye protection, boots, and other important stuff.
Implement Comprehensive Safety Training
Conduct regular safety training sessions to ensure workers understand proper protocols and procedures. Educate employees on the correct use of machinery, personal protective equipment (PPE), and safety measures for different job site conditions. Training should also cover hazard recognition, emergency response, and the importance of reporting unsafe situations to prevent accidents.
Leverage Technology
Increase workplace safety by incorporating cutting-edge technologies. In addition to monitoring vital signs and detecting falls, wearable safety equipment can notify supervisors of crises. Real-time job site analysis using AI-powered sensors identifies potential risks and risky conduct. By conducting airborne inspections of high-risk locations, drones minimize worker exposure to risks and eliminate the need for workers to enter hazardous zones.
