In 2020, the Health and Safety Executive published a report detailing that 81,000 workers suffer from work-related ill health, with 61,000 non-fatal injuries reported a year and 40 construction-related deaths across 2016/17.
To help you better protect your business, we look at the most common causes of on-site accidents and offer ways of avoiding them.
Electrocutions – On average, three construction-related electrocutions occur each year. As well as the risk of reputational damage, unsafe practices can be costly to the individual and result in a hefty fine for your company.
When working with electrics, you must ensure rules and regulations are being followed through to the highest standard.
Airborne fibres and toxins – 12,000 work-related lung disease deaths are reported each year and the construction industry is a high contributor to this.
As many as 18,000 new self-reported cases of breathing problems are reported throughout the year.
It’s the employer’s responsibility to ensure that all workers have the correct PPE and comply with health and safety regulations.
Asbestos – The key contributor to fatal respiratory conditions is asbestos, a natural occurring silicate material. If disturbed, it can be released and enter the lungs, causing detrimental effects to your breathing.
Unintentional collapse – Those working around an excavation are most susceptible to injuries or fatalities from falling materials.
In 2016 to 2017, 137 workers were killed due to this.
Material handling – Damage to muscles, ligaments, tendons, discs, cartilage and/or nerves is particularly common when handling heavy materials. Injuries can vary but may take months or even years to heal.
Hand and vibration syndrome – This may develop when a worker frequently uses power tools and the damage is irreversible. It results in being unable to grip things properly, meaning that you may not be able to do things as simple as hold a glass of water.
Noise – There were 1,505 new work-related deafness claims between 2007 and 2017. On construction sites, noise can reach hazardous levels. Workers are often lax in wearing proper ear protection and are often issued the wrong kind to begin with.
Slips and trips – Slips and trips make up 40% of all reported injuries each year.
Working from height – This accounts for 50% of fatal injuries within the construction sector. The absence of guardrails and inadequate edge protection significantly contribute to these numbers.
Find out how we can help cover your business today.