Safety violations on construction sites are not uncommon, as these statistics demonstrate: More than 20% of all fatal workplace accidents in the European Union in 2019 took place in the construction sector. construction, making it the leading sector in terms of fatal accidents.
During the same period, 59.5% of non-fatal accidents due to safety violations took place on construction sites in the EU.
In 2020, the United States recorded 4,764 workplace fatalities, with more than 20% attributed to the construction and extraction industries. We're going to discuss recent CCOHS (" Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety" ) safety violations imposed on construction companies and what you can do to avoid them.
What are the most common violations according to CCOHS?
CCOHS issued more than 22,000 citations to the construction industry last year, which is more than all other industries combined. Fines resulting from these citations totaled more than $80 million.
Let's explore the four most common safety violations in construction work cited by CCOHS and what you can do to prevent them on your job sites. These examples of safety violations include: Slips, trips and falls.
The employer is required to provide fall protection to prevent slips, trips and falls. These safety violations often occur when construction sites do not have adequate fall protection equipment, when people work on uneven surfaces, or when training on how to use the equipment is not provided. not provided.
You can avoid these safety violations by: Keeping your construction site organized and well lit. Providing workers with fall protection systems. Putting guardrails in place in areas with significant falls. Training workers on how to climb and descend ladders safely.
The second most common safety violation cited by CCOHS is related to “struck by object” accidents. This may mean workers being hit by falling machinery or materials, etc. There are various regulations aimed at preventing these safety violations, particularly regarding personal protective equipment (PPE). In 2021, 1,497 of 1,514 citations for not wearing eye and face protection and 844 of 865 citations for not wearing head protection were attributed to the construction industry. These citations for not wearing proper PPE cost construction companies more than $7 million throughout the year.
You can help prevent safety violations related to “struck by object” accidents by: Properly securing materials, tools and equipment. Providing workers with high visibility clothing. Stacking materials so that they cannot slide. Training equipment operators to only work in areas where they have a clear line of sight.
After “hit by an object” safety violations come accidents related to being stuck between objects. These safety violations result in injuries when project managers and general contractors fail to follow CCOHS general safety provisions and safety training standards.
Safety violations in these two categories resulted in 397 and 865 citations for construction companies last year, resulting in fines of nearly $6 million. You can avoid safety violations related to being trapped between objects by: Teaching the importance of maintaining environmental awareness. Providing protection systems for excavations and trenches. Preventing workers from wearing loose clothing or items on the construction site. Let's focus on the dangers of working between stationary objects and equipment.
Finally, we have safety violations that result in shock and electrocution, causing injuries ranging from minor burns to permanent nerve damage and even death. Although these safety violations are much less common than the previous three, they can lead to easily preventable accidents on construction sites.
CCOHS issued 48 citations for improper use of lockout/tagout and 206 citations for wiring methods, components and equipment posing shock and electrocution hazards, resulting in small fines of more than $600,000 for construction companies. You can avoid these safety violations by: Providing workers with the appropriate PPE. Training workers on the dangers of energized equipment and machinery. Using lockout/tagout every time you perform maintenance. Ensuring all wiring methods and components are up to code.
To avoid safety violations and ensure the safety of everyone on your construction sites, it is important to understand the risks and how accidents happen. Training and education are as vital to your operations as providing workers with the proper tools and PPE to complete the job safely.
Construction companies that want to avoid safety violations and ensure the safety of everyone on the job site must standardize their QHSE (quality, health, safety and environment) processes. This is where we come in.
Prevention is better than cure.