We are all prone to saying “What’s the worst thing that could happen?” before taking a risk. It is part of human nature to avoid precaution but when it comes to construction site management there is no excuse for avoiding safety orientation training. We have compiled the Top 10 construction accident types as well as examples of the resulting claims.
10. Cuts and dismemberment
In 2012 a labourer in New York sustained a severe amputation injury to his foot when a roadway plate was dropped from a hoist on a construction site. He claimed against his employer based on the fact that the hoist operator had not been correctly orientated in how to attach the safety devices on the plate. The award was $1.5 million dollars.
9. Eye Injuries
Eye injuries statistically have been on the wane in Europe and the US since 2007, no coincidence that this coincides with the housing collapse on either side of the Atlantic. However, new statistics from Emergency rooms coming out this year appears to show that the uplift in construction in the last 12 months has seen a rise again in eye trauma. Injuries range from blunt force trauma to the eye and socket, welding burns and foreign bodies entering the eye. Sadly, these are some of the easiest injuries to prevent if proper health and safety orientation training is given to all contractors. Trials show the use of eye protectors and hard hats do significantly reduce accidents and time lost through sickness.
8. Working at heights
When working over 15 meters from the ground you are, officially, ‘Working at a Height’ and the range of safety equipment and protocols are all designed to reduce the possibility of an accident. There are a number of orientation drills and training modules that can be delivered to contractors that can help to avoid falls but they must be done regularly. Over 1000 fatal accidents from height occur in Europe every year with a further 40000 serious injuries. Recently a maintenance worker at a supermarket in Manchester suffered brain damage and a badly fractured elbow when he fell 18 feet from a supermarket roof. He had been trying to replace a missing piece of roofing after a storm when he himself was blown off by a gust of wind. The building’s owner was successfully sued for £2.7 million for failing to provide a safety harness to the worker.
7. Trenches and Holes
Construction projects often require that a trench be dug for installation of electrical conduits or water mains. Trenches are recognised as one of the most dangerous areas of a site as the risk of poorly constructed trench supports or none at all allow trench collapses to happen. A worker in a collapsed trench even up to the top of his leg will be trapped and may die from the pressure that is exerted on the body. In 2013 in Cornwall in the UK a worker was trapped up to his waist in a trench collapse which took 50 emergency crew and fire brigade several hours to rescue him from. Personal injury claims from workers in these situations rarely favor the employer unless they can prove that the worker was fully trained in Health and Safety on site.
6. Falling through roofs
A worker in British Columbia in 2007 was working with 3 colleagues on a flat roof structural steel building laying metal roof panels over layers of insulation. He fell through the insulation to the concrete floor 17 feet below and subsequently died from his injuries. Supervisors did not have any written site-specific work procedures and had not completed a site orientation. The employers were found to have been negligent towards their employees and were fined a large sum and had to pay compensation to the victim’s estate. Falling through roofs and ceilings are one of the most common injuries on site and are entirely avoidable with the right training measures in place by the site manager and the employer. Accident prevention has been improving steadily in developed countries since the 1980’s and this is a direct result of increased legislation governing health and safety procedures that employers must comply with.
5. Overhead power lines
A high proportion of accidents occur when vehicles or machinery make contact with overhead lines. If a vehicle or machine becomes “live” then anyone touching it is in mortal danger. Anyone in the cab may be in less danger but may be threatened by the vehicle or machine catching fire. People working close to overhead electricity lines and cables often suffer serious injury and death if the work is not properly controlled. The most common accidents involve a vehicle being driven into power lines or part of a vehicle being raised into them. A lack of training and poor management of the risks can cause many of these accidents. A high proportion of accidents occur when vehicles or machinery make contact with overhead lines. If a vehicle or machine becomes “live” then anyone touching it is in mortal danger. Anyone in the cab may be in less danger but may be threatened by the vehicle or machine catching fire. A lorry driver suffered extensive electrical burns to his head and body whilst delivering material to cover a horse gallop at a farm. As a result he lost one of his arms below the elbow and part of his skull. He also sustained extensive burns to both legs when the raised body of his lorry touched an 11,000 Volt overhead power line. This accident happened 100 metres from where a spraying contractor had been killed by the same overhead power line.
4. Fumes and ambient dust
Construction and maintenance workers are often very aware of the dangers posed by falling objects, electricity and heavy machinery as these are clear and present dangers. However, toxic fumes and ambient dust can be equally dangerous albeit with a delayed reaction. Many contractors who have not been made aware of the dangers of fumes and dust suffer later in life from the effects of these materials on the body. Correct face masks and filters are essential for maintaining health and safety while at work and a simple orientation from the Health and Safety Officer before entering the site can help to achieve this goal. Neglecting to provide this training to contractors can lead to costly lawsuits.
3. Electrocution
We have already discussed the hitting of overhead power lines but the dangers of electricity are not confined to just this source. Electrocution is the second biggest killer on construction sites worldwide and it does not take a huge charge to cause a fatal incident. Cables falling into standing pools of water, live cables embedded in walls, unfinished wiring and hitting underground power cables are also very common sources of injury and death. In Florida a Verdict of Liability was given in favour of a painter’s wife after he was electrocuted by a third rail while painting a viaduct. The proof showed that the victim had not been provided with the proper protection required for the work he was performing and that he had not been properly trained in health and safety by the site manager.
2. Lifting injuries
Though rarely resulting in death, injuries sustained in lifting objects are the No. 1 cause of sick leave among construction workers. A simple lifting orientation course online can eradicate poor practice by workers on a site and if all workers are trained then they reinforce each other’s good practices. It is tempting to take on more than you are able for but it is up to the site manager or employer to correctly train contractors and insist on good lifting techniques. Getting help from a colleague to lift an item or else to use a mechanical aide such as a trolley or palette truck can be the difference between losing a contractor to sickness or even a lawsuit.
1. Head injuries
Millions of hard hats are worn every day. In fact, the hard hat is one of the most recognizable pieces of safety equipment in the industrial workplace. It’s also one of the most important pieces of safety equipment because it protects the brain. Unfortunately, this ubiquitous piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) is rarely part of an inspection, maintenance, or replacement program. Hard hats do degrade over time and should be replaced regularly as even a small defect can compromise its efficacy when put into use. Objects dropping from height do not need to be very large or very hard to cause an injury to those below. Eye injuries, lacerations, brain injuries and concussion can all result when workers are casual about wearing their PPE. In a similar sense gloves, eye and ear protectors form an essential barrier between the worker and the tough construction environment. However, these items are of little or no use unless contractors are aware of why they should use them. This comes down to training and orientation and it is up to employers to provide this to all working on their site.
It is easy to dismiss the likelihood of any given accident occurring today or even this year. However, it is important to remember that construction sites remain some of the most dangerous places on Earth and worker training and orientation should never be taken lightly. Automating the process of training contractors and casual workers on your site can save you countless hours of administration and costly training sessions. More importantly, it can save you the heartbreak of dealing with a major injury or fatality to one of your employees. GoContractor provides this service for employers by creating a software orientation system that dramatically reduces administration time on this task and, more importantly, ensures that all workers are fully trained in the areas of health and safety practice that they will need. Saving money and saving lives has never been this easy as so many of our clients will testify to.
“GoContractor gives us control over the first steps contractors take to become safe and knowledgeable members of our workforce. Now we have a robust orientation and registration process that ensures No Orientation = No Work Badge.” – Pat Conlon, Gilbane Construction
What’s the worst that can happen? Let’s never find out.
