Working in construction is undoubtedly a career path that carries significant risk but, rather than accept this and carry on as usual, perhaps it is time to take a fresh look at on-site health and safety protocols to see if there is room for improvement.
An employer’s responsibilities are laid out by the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), with requirements for risk assessments made more explicit through the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. It is here that employers can find detailed guidance on what a risk assessment should entail – and this is broken down into practical steps on the HSE’s own website.
Understanding duty of care – some questions to ask
In the current climate, duty of care means putting the right measures in place to allow employees to carry out their work safely and without any undue stress or concern. In order to guarantee that this is happening, there are some basic questions that it is worth asking:
- Is everyone clear in their understanding of what their roles and responsibilities are?
- Do workers have adequate PPE which they know how to use or wear?
- Do they understand why it is necessary?
- Do workers know how to use the equipment properly?
- Have they had refresher training if they’ve been using it for a long time?
- Would staff know what to do in a critical situation?
- Are there mental wellbeing checks in place?
- Does everyone know what signs to look out for in a colleague or themselves?
Asking these questions on a regular basis will help an organisation to focus on the measures that are in place and whether there is anything further that could – or should, be done.
Identifying and reducing physical risks in construction
The HSE report into fatalities in the construction industry also found that the number one cause of death was by falling from height, followed by being struck by a moving vehicle or object. Construction workers are regularly required to use large tools and operate a variety of machinery, often at height and sometimes in environments where hazardous materials are present. The physical risks are very real – but the majority can be avoided.
Accidents can – and do – happen and those who find themselves working alone or out of the earshot of colleagues are particularly vulnerable. Should someone be incapacitated by tripping and falling for instance, they could be reliant on someone else arriving at the scene in order to get help. Even the smallest accidents can turn into something more serious, even potentially fatal, if help is not easy to come by.
Complacency is another risk factor that can be overlooked and may not be as obvious to an employer. When someone is comfortable in their role and used to carrying out the same tasks, mistakes can still be made. It’s easy to let your mind wander whilst completing a routine job, which can result in an incident.
Including workers in the risk assessment process can heighten their safety consciousness and highlight any unknown or unforeseen hazards. Getting their input can help to put robust safety measures and processes in place that are more likely to be followed.
How technology can help with physical risks
Last year, over 120 health and safety specialists surveyed and it was found that 71% of firms planned to invest in lone worker technology and smart PPE within the next three years. We have seen a significant shift towards the reliance on technology and smarter solutions to help protect employees and that is only likely to increase as technological advances continue to be made.
When it comes to personal safety, there are a number of solutions beyond traditional forms of PPE (e.g. hard hats and steel toe-capped boots) to keep workers safe. Dedicated SOS devices and apps can proactively ensure staff safety whether they are surrounded by colleagues or find themselves working alone.
By pressing the SOS button, a two way communication channel is opened with a trained incident manager who will also receive the user’s GPS location to within 3m² and their personal profile created during setup. Additional features including fall detection are available to assist when a user slips, trips or falls by sensing a sudden impact on the device and a change in orientation to automatically trigger an SOS alert.
Devices with geofencing capabilities work well on site by sending an automatic message when someone enters a fenced area to remind them about the safety protocols in that space. For instance, a reminder that hard hats and appropriate footwear are mandatory.
Carrying a simple-to-use safety device which can be used at any time not only provides reassurance and assistance during the working day, but can also be utilised outside of working hours – a perk of the job at no extra cost to the employer.
Mental health risks faced by workers in construction
Mental health risks are just as significant as physical risks in the industry. Mental Health First Aid reports that two people in the construction industry die by suicide every day in the UK. This is a shocking statistic and something that the construction industry is already working hard to improve.
It is vital to recognise that the signs exhibited by each person will be different – and that some people will not exhibit any signs at all. Some key indicators that employers should look out for include:
- Suddenly reduced or unpredictable performance
- Neglect of safety advice or more accidents
- Withdrawal; being difficult to reach by phone or electronic means
- High rates of sickness absence
- Being short tempered or having outbursts of anger
Technology has a role to play in helping to raise awareness of a worker who is suffering with poor mental health before it becomes a crisis situation. There are apps, for instance, that have wellbeing checks, asking users a short series of questions on a regular basis. The answers given will then enable the app to assess the user’s state of mind and raise the necessary alert should it be required.
There are also apps that help specifically with mental health, providing actionable tools and insights that help individuals to manage their condition and form good habits that will safeguard their mental health in the future.
Workers who are on their own or out of earshot
The first step in protecting lone workers is ensuring that both employers and employees alike understand why lone working is riskier than working as part of a team. The problem isn’t necessarily that the job they are doing is a more dangerous one; it’s that there is usually nobody to call on if things go wrong. In the construction industry this is a particular concern due to the nature of the tasks being completed and the equipment used on a daily basis.
When it comes to making on-the-spot safety decisions, lone workers are once again faced with an increased risk. No opportunity for a second opinion means a raised possibility of poor decision making – in some cases leading to workers placing themselves in unnecessary danger or in situations that can quickly escalate and become unmanageable for one person alone.
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