Simple Solutions to Reduce the Injuries in the Construction Industry

Nearly $13 billion is spent annually as a total cost of fatal and nonfatal injuries that include medical expenses, compensation, pay-loss in the construction industry. The injuries that result in workday loss contribute to 60% of the total cost.

This includes medical bill expenses, workers’ compensation payments among direct costs and loss of wages and productivity counting among the indirect costs.

Here are some distressing construction injury statistics...

• 1. 1 out of 10 construction workers is injured every year. (Source: OSHA)

1. 1 in 10 Falls contributes to the most significant cause of fatal construction injuries (Source: The Center for Construction Research and Training.)
2. The most-violated OSHA compliance is fall protection. (Source: OSHA)

• 4. Ironwork is the job with the highest injury rates in the construction industry. (Source: AOL)

• 5. The construction industry is #2 in the U.S.A. for fatal injuries among workers less than 18 years. (Source: US National Library of Medicine.)

• 6. 60% of construction workplace injuries occur within an employee’s first year of employment.(Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.)

• 7. Exposure attributes to 15.7% of all construction injuries. (Source: The Center for Construction Research and Training)

Under OSHA compliance, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace. Employers must follow all applicable OSHA standards.

Many industries have implemented simple solutions to address the safety issue of their workers. These also included modifying existing equipment, purchasing new tools, and making changes in work practices.

Mentioned below are some methods of reducing risks:

Engineering Controls

Making physical changes in the workplace that help in reducing or eliminating health hazards as follows:

1. Using a device to lift and reposition heavy objects.

• 2. Reducing the weight of a load to limit strain.

• 3. Repositioning a work table to prevent a long/excessive stretch from reaching

• 4. Redesigning tools to ensure working in neutral postures.

• 5. Using diverging conveyors off the main line to reduce repetitive tasks.

• 6. Installing diverters on conveyors to direct materials toward the worker to stop extreme leaning or stretching to reach them.

Administrative, Work Practice Modifications

Implementing efficient processes and procedures. Following are some examples:

• 1. Ensuring that heavy loads are always lifted by two people

• 2. Job rotation among workers to minimize the duration of continued exertion, repetitive motions, and excessive exposure to awkward postures

• 3. Periodic breaks between scheduled breaks

• 4. Proper maintenance of pneumatic and other power tools

• 5. Appropriate training for safe handling/use of tools

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Mandatory use of PPEs to reduce risks and regular inspection to ensure that the rules are followed. Some possible implementation could be:

• 1. Using padding to minimize direct contact with hard, sharp, or vibrating surfaces

• 2. Wearing befitting thermal gloves

• 3. Wearing helmets/masks

Implementing such low-cost changes as mentioned above and receiving trainings can help in reducing injury rates, workers compensation costs, and employee turnover. They also can help in increased productivity and work efficiency as well.

Osha Safety Certification

Albeit OSHA does not actually certify trainers, and one cannot get "OSHA certified" (contrary to popular understanding), but courses and trainers are considered as OSHA "authorized" (Impact Safety Inc for example).

OSHA Outreach Training is something which is closest to OSHA safety certification and provided by OSHA authorized trainers. On completion, students receive an official Department of Labor OSHA 10-Hour or 30-Hour card.

That said, the training is voluntary, and OSHA has guidelines for training, but these are not standards as themselves. Workers often do not need an official DOL card for OSHA compliance - in fact, the rule of the thumb is they just need proper training that will teach them how to stay safe on their worksite and employers should ensure this!

Impact Safety is providing companies compliance and safety training at its Osha Education Center enabling them to maintain a high standard of safety excellence at the workplace.