Fall injuries during construction are one of the biggest problems in a health sector. Many accidents happen on the site of constructions. However, the need is to find a solution to the problem. If we look at the surveys conducted by various countries worldwide, they show a large number of people affecting due to injuries at the site of construction. U.K. has faced almost 40 to 45% deaths caused due to fall from any area of construction, and same percent of people got injuries (Yang, 2006). These injuries are sometimes so severe that a person could not carry on their normal life activities throughout their lives. The construction companies have also made a record and according to that report almost three to four thousand people in U.K. suffer severe injuries including injuries on the head, skull, fracture of bones, and an immense bleeding from various parts of the body.
So according to the above discussion we can easily see that fall and occurrence of injuries are a common phenomenon in the construction and usual in all countries across the world. Various researches are being made to know the causes and to prevent accidents happen during construction and at various workplaces. The organizations named as National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), has conducted surveys from time to time and found that for the last 15 to 16 years, this organization is working to secure the injuries and prevent such circumstances that lead to the fall and causing injuries. The organization has developed their key plans and goals to protect such accidents.
Research work done:
In U.S. the year 2007 showing high percentage of people injured due to fall from the construction site.
Among those injured people, many have few injuries mean not very severe but the injuries cause the absence from work. This absence results in delay of work and at the same time the health facilities incur huge expenses. In the same year, U.S. has lost almost 70 to 80 billion dollars due to the accidents. Similarly another organization known as OSHA,( occupational safety and health administration) worked together with NIOSH, and found that there is an urgent need for a safer environment and ensure that workers are working in a comfort zone (Program, 30-Mar-2009). The awareness programs are initiated by these organizations. This awareness is spread to the workers and also to the entrepreneurs to provide safety. Three to four goals were set and put forward to the companies. These goals were:
- Introduce such programs those based on the prevention measures.
- Complete systemic procedure must ensured for the workers.
- Along with the above goals, the directions are also to be set to avoid injuries.
- And last if any injuries happen, the companies should take the responsibility and provide all medical and health facilities.
These goals have achieved a higher rate of success. Many accidents are reduced as the prevention was already taken.
Causative factors associated with the fall accident:
The number of accidents occurs at construction areas are increasing day by day. Along with the certain measures taken by various organizations, still the problem needs to be sorted out. And it is a matter of great concern for the health departments as well as for security providing in the construction areas.
There are few factors related to causative factors.
- The work is carried out at all months of the year. But there construction that is mostly carried out during a summer. The reason being lengthy days; people in a summer are most active rather than winters and along with these reasons some construction is done well during summers (Andrew Dainty, 2012). So keeping this seasonal point in mind, many fall injuries occur during this season as well. Many surveys and reports are conducted on this seasonal cause related to fall accident. And the surveys show tremendous high ratio of injuries. In this case, the surveys have given the reports showing 8 to 9 % accidents happen due to seasonal changes.
- Second causative factor is the environment and the places where the construction is carried out. For example, certain vehicles used in construction areas sometimes may lose its balance, or damage resulting in very severe accidents, and in case of environmental changes like rain, or extreme hot weather. The construction of very high buildings also is one of the causative factors when no special preventive measures taken. The surveys show about 10% accidents happen from high level buildings.
- However there are certain factors that are done not environment or other machineries, but are done due to human negligence. If the safety is not provided efficiently, if the material carriage handled carelessly, or if the careless attitude towards a danger zone occurs, then a severe and serious accidents can happen to cause severe injuries.
These factors along with other like psychological factor, age factor and also sometimes working hours length also relate to accidents.
Fall protection program:
Many governmental and non-governmental organizations are working day and night for the programs that save and prevent such accidents.
OSHA is a program run to prevent and provide safety for fall injuries. OSHA is a program run in U.S. and it has two to three thousands staff, and the staff working effectively to address about 140 to 150 million workers and their safety issues. This program has many regional and local offices and working for the rights of labor in the U.S. The main aim of OSHA is to provide such programs that have safety planning and procedure and at the same time healthy assistance and consultancy is provided at the earliest possible time. OSHA has conducted surveys and found that some of the severe accidents are:
- When the building not properly constructed, it means there are holes in some places or even if the walls are not properly constructed. Such places can cause harmful damage to any worker working there.
- In some construction areas, sometimes the materials used are not properly cut and utilized leaving open edges. Such can also cause many damages.
According to the survey of OSHA in 2012, almost 5000 workers have been died or injured during their working hours.
So the OSHA along with some other organizations has worked to spread the awareness and at the same time negotiate with the owners of the construction to ensure full safety for the workers. According to OSHA reports, during the year 2012, the number of occurrence of injuries is reduced as compared to past twenty year’s injuries. Similarly, the number of accidents has been reduced.
Prevention at the construction areas:
Some organizations like NIOSH are providing few steps to reduce and to provide the prevention for the workers. According to that organization, safety signs are the most important method for preventing any accidents to happen (L.Thygerson, 2008). At the same time, the materials used should be checked by quality control authorities and after examining the site the workers should be allowed to work.
References:
Andrew Dainty, M. L. (2012). Human Resource Management in Construction. Routledge.
L.Thygerson, A. (2008). Injury Prevention: Competencies for Unintentional Injury Prevention Professionals. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Program, C. t. (30-Mar-2009). The Health Hazard Evaluation Program at NIOSH. National Academies Press.
Yang, E. Y.-J. (2006). Characteristics and Consequences of Falls, and Risk Factors for Injuries Due to Inpatient Falls for Selected Hospitals in Taiwan. ProQuest.
