This article looks at the most common causes of accidents on construction sites. Pro Netting Solutions supply fall arrest nets and crash bag hire for Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Kent and London. Find out more about causes of construction accidents and preventive measures for construction accidents.
Causes of Construction Accidents
Costs and work schedules are often put above worker safety in numerous projects and this is a commonplace mistake in many construction site accidents. Employers on such job sites shouldn't rush their workers to complete these dangerous jobs in a hurry for the sake of the lowest possible cost, as this could put aside occupational safety precautions.
The most common causes of construction industry accidents include the following:
A severe lack of protection for those working on platforms or elevated features
A lack of protection for workers on the ground that could be harmed by the risk of falling objects or tools
Construction debris, toxic mould or materials that cause tripping hazards
Power tools without significant protections or missing guards
Faulty equipment
No safety precautions when working on projects close to power lines
A lack of safety for staff working in trenches or underground
Unsafe property conditions.
Common Causes of Construction Site Accidents
Falls from height
The likelihood of falling from extreme heights can be enhanced by unsecured ladders, a lack of PPE or safety railings, and faulty scaffolding. A fall from height is one of the most common and dangerous ways to experience an accident, and it is the leading cause of head, brain, neck and spinal injuries sustained in the workplace, and many more.
It can even lead to death in severe cases. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 state that employers must follow several requirements to keep their staff safe whilst working at height.
- You must ensure your employees have appropriate, high-quality training before beginning work.
- PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) must be provided.
- Thorough risk assessments must be conducted to analyse the risks and implement how to mitigate or reduce them.
- All equipment and heavy machinery must be tested to ensure it is in good working order.
- All surfaces on-site must be sturdy, dry, and free of debris and obstacles to prevent fall accidents.
Defective equipment
It's paramount that all tools and equipment utilised on an operating construction site are in good working order. You'll find that if this isn't the case, numerous accidents can occur when employees try to carry out electrical or building work using defective or faulty machinery or equipment. To successfully avoid incurring injuries and protect the health and well-being of your staff, we recommend the following practices:
- As the employer, you and your employees must conduct a full occupational health and safety risk assessment and inspections on all tools and machinery.
- Appropriate PPE is encouraged and provided.
- All tools and equipment must be regularly maintained or upgraded.
Electric shock
At any professional construction site, you are bound to find plenty of electrical equipment that can be dangerous to your physical health if faulty or used incorrectly.
Electric shock injuries can cause scarring, long-term nerve damage, burns, and in some drastic cases, death. You can successfully mitigate the risk of electric shock injury among your staff by doing the following:
- Ensure that the only professionals carrying out electrical work are fully qualified experts with years of training.
- All employees on site should be supplied with electrical testing equipment, and come to work wearing the correct safety gear.
- You must ensure that all machinery and electrical tools receive frequent inspections and regular maintenance.
Manual handling
When employees are lifting and transporting heavy loads, or pushing and pulling them across a construction site, they are always at risk of developing manual handling injuries.
As the employer, it is paramount that you briefly remind your workers of the correct techniques that they will have learnt in their years of training. If you desire further information, The Manual Handling Operations Regulations (1992) provide a set of rules and safety guidelines to comply with to keep your staff safe and protect their well-being. Before carrying out any manual load handling, you must ensure the following:
- Carry out a solid risk assessment
- Conduct proper health and safety training for all your employees and on-site workers. Suppose an employer has failed to adhere to these responsibilities, and if that then leads to accidents with other workers, they are entitled to claim compensation for the injuries and losses they or the company experience financially. Always assess your legal options against the Solicitors Regulation Authority guidelines and opt for a free initial consultation.
- You must incorporate all measures and construction materials that will aid or prevent so much heavy lifting throughout the site, such as hoists, pallet trucks, conveyors, etc.
Slips, trips & falls
Many factors on a construction site can lead to slips and falls, such as building equipment scattered, loose cables trailing around, and holes in the ground that have not been marked by signposts.
The most commonplace injuries in the workplace result from employees experiencing a slip, trip or fall. To mitigate the risks of such incidents, you may want to comply with the following tips:
- We encourage you and your employees to keep walkways free of obstructions and debris.
- Always stay alert of your surroundings.
- Report all hazards you find to your management so that they can be remedied.
Vehicle accidents
The HSE (Health and Safety Executives) have stated that approximately 7 workers die on construction sites, and around 93 get seriously injured every year due to accidents involving vehicles. There are numerous preventative measures you and your employees can take to minimise the risk of accidents, one of the best ways to deal with these issues is with effective traffic management.
- You want to ensure all pedestrians and vehicles are kept at a safe distance; provide adequate, safe crossings, walkways, barriers, and clear exits and entrances.
- All employees and workers you hire to assist you to complete the building projects or specific jobs must be competent enough to carry out the work and operate the vehicles adequately.
- Next, you'll need to increase the visibility of your pedestrians so that drivers know to be wary.
- Ensure all workers and drivers wear high-vis jackets and clothing so that they can be easily detected on-site.
- Signs must be displayed in clear, viewable areas close by to or above dangerous areas so that drivers and passengers in vehicles can see them.
- You must ensure that you brief all employees and site visitors on the instructions of whereabouts vehicles will be entering and exiting the site so that they can steer clear.
- Lastly, we urge you to prevent all vehicles from reversing as this can result in fatal accidents and many risks. If your construction site is an extension project, you may want to fit a turning circle for vehicles, so that vehicles can sufficiently turn without having to perform complex reverses.
Power tool hazards
Construction sites are busy, dangerous work environments, with workers utilising multiple machines and power tool equipment that are typically loud, making it an incredibly noisy space to work in.
To prevent long-term hearing damage, we urge you and your workers to always wear ear defenders during hours of operation. Do all possible to prevent tinnitus and hearing loss as this can develop from exposure to prolonged periods of noise at extreme levels, so we encourage taking breaks.
Preventive Measures for Construction Accidents
With strong planning and scheduling, you and your employees will be able to adequately detect hazards throughout your construction site or workplace.
In doing so, you can adequately prepare and prevent accidents through the use of PPE gear (Personal Protective Equipment), such as hard-duty gloves, helmets, thick High-Vis vests or reflective cloth jackets, goggles, masks, ear defenders, and slip-resistant steel-toed boots.
You must make sure that those that aren't operating said heavy, sharp or noise-producing machinery maintain plenty of distance. If the site you are working on is much darker, or you will be working through the night, then we recommend investing in high-quality lighting equipment.
When on-site, you must ensure you or a competent employee checks and repairs all operating equipment and machinery before work begins, any projected nails should also be removed from the site.
As an employer, you must encourage properly balanced diets and plenty of rest for your workers. Fatigue and health issues can be a catalyst for numerous construction site accidents, so it's best to schedule rest and food breaks. On any unprotected site, you must install a catch net. For those working on excavation projects, we urge all employees to have extensive knowledge and training in the necessary underground structures and the use of defensive appliances.
Incorporating safety programs for your construction workers will make the process of risk prevention much smoother and more straightforward to grasp. Lastly, it's paramount to place warning signboards above or around risky areas, so that workers know to keep a distance or be careful.
Safety Measures After Accidents
You must ensure there is a high-quality warning alarm or loud siren installed at your property or construction site, as this will help notify your employees or visitors of any surrounding hazards they may encounter. It's paramount to have a functioning fire extinguisher on site to prevent small or large fires from developing.
On-site, you must have a qualified medical team hired and ready to be of service in case of any injuries. Ensure there is always a vehicle and a competent driver on site that is located in a place that is quick to access, in case your workers need to visit the hospital after an accident or personal injury. Those injured must receive immediate health facilities or first aid practices by those qualified and trained.
All accidents must be immediately and clearly reported to higher authorities, this will ensure preventative methods and measures are put in place for the following days of work or future projects. A lawyer or solicitor should be contacted that can compensate and effectively manage all the existing expenses of the workers, and financially oversee the treatment they receive for minor or significant accidents at work or on construction sites.
If you are working on a construction project in Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Kent or London, you will be considring the safety requirements of your workers. Follow the links below for construction site safety nets, crash bags hire and edge protection hire.
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