What are the Top Risks for Injury in Construction and How Do You Prevent Them?

Construction site are well-documented as one of the primary areas of concern for workplace safety, and have traditionally experienced some of the highest counts of large workers’ compensation claims of any category by type of injury.

Indeed, even though claim frequency in workers’ comp has been flat for a decade or so, claim severity – particularly in construction – has been trending upward for the past few years.

Read on to learn about some of the leading categories for construction work comp claims and how you can help your company steer clear of them.

FALLS FROM ELEVATION

Around 30%, falls and slips from height such as ladder, scaffolding or stairs, are the highest category of claims for those holding construction company insurance. Falls are also the leading cause of death among construction workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

But there’s no need for it to be this way. A long-time partner in the OSHA/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Alliance and the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Construction Sector, OSHA has joined them in supporting the Fall Prevention Campaign, which raises awareness of common fall hazards in construction, and how these may be prevented.

Here are their suggestions to stay safe on the job and prevent falls:

Plan for Safety: Safer outcomes are a consequence of better planning before the work even commences, including consideration of all tasks being considered and what safety equipment might be required for each task.
Give Them the Proper Equipment: When workers are six feet or more off a lower level, when they slip and fall, they face real danger of being injured, even killed. Ensure they have fall protection, as well as the proper equipment for the job, including the right ladder, scaffolds and safety gear. For roof work, have well-fitting PFAS that are regularly checked, and a harness for each worker who must tie off to the anchor.
Train All Workers: All workers must be trained on how to properly set up and safely operate the equipment they are using. Employers should also train employees to recognize workplace hazards that could exist in the course of their work.

STRUCK BY or AGAINST CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS

The next largest number of building site accidents occur in the Struck by or Against Category. According to OSHA, “Struck-by” injuries involve a person being struck by a physical object or vehicle or piece of equipment.

Such incidents occur particularly frequently among construction workers, and it’s all too common for flying, falling, swinging, and rolling objects to hit them.

Yet there are relatively simple things companies can do to avoid accidents struck-by. Supplying shoelaces for safety glasses and hard hats, ensuring workers can be easily seen, fastening dangerous equipment, inspecting tools frequently, and restricting entry to restricted areas can also cut down on the risk for these types of injuries.

FALLS FROM THE SAME LEVEL

Same-level falls are usually slips and trips. The butt of movie and TV jokes, they are no joke, and they cause serious injury that can include head injuries, broken bones, torn ligaments and sometimes permanent disability.

Ensure you’re doing everything you can to keep your site safe from the risk of slips, trips and falls:

Clear pathways from possible obstacles, such as cords and tools
When there is a spill immediately mop it up
Set aside space for garbage and scraps and don’t just “leave it where it lands”.
Regularly conduct daily safety checks at the same times each day
Be aware of good lighting that isn’t too dim or too glary
Apply grip tape in places of high risk.

CUMULATIVE TRAUMA

This is the overuse of tendons muscles, and sensitive nerve tissue over a long-term basis. Last year, about 5 percent of our construction work policyholders sustained this type of injury. Repetitive movements, force or poor positioning (awkward posture) can result in traumatic strain over time.

How to Prevent

Prefer hand tools of soft, rounded forms with handles over tools with hard, sharp edges and short handles.
Take note of the layout of your work area: the tools, parts and equipment you need should be readily accessible without reaching or bending unnecessarily
Job rotation and/or assignment to different types of jobs that use different muscles and body parts
Repetitive Motion Breaks: This allows the muscles and tendons the time to heal in their normal way from repetitive motion, which can lead to discomfort in the muscles and tendons.
Remember to stretch and stand or walk at any point that you find discomfort or tingling in your neck, shoulders, arms or hands.

Another important one is training for proper response to workplace injury. If you have any doubts involving the safety of your personnel, please contact Safety Counselling. We are here to assist and we’d like to make sure your employees go home safe!