In a construction project, several parties work together with the aim of achieving a particular goal. The means involved in the achievement of this goal presents several hazards that pose danger to human life. In the construction industry, there are several hazards that result from work methods, equipment, as well as practices. According to OSHA, the main categories of hazards that contribute to most fatalities in the construction industry include falls, electrocutions, an individual being struck by an object, and people caught in between objects. These account for approximately 50% of all fatalities as well as injuries. This paper is set to discuss falls as a major hazard with bias on falls from ladders and scaffolds.
There are numerous safety and health challenges facing the construction industry (Kamardeen, 2015). This is due to the hazards that are inherent in all construction activities at the sites. The construction sector or industry registers the highest records of the accident as compared to other industries of the economy (Senbon & Hnabushi, 2013). Reports on disabilities, fatalities, as well as certain environmental threats have been an increasing concern in the construction industry. Workers at the construction sites are often exposed to various hazards (Hughes & Ferret, 2011). Such hazards include adverse psychological, technical, environmental, as well as economic conditions. All these hazards have a potential of affecting the health of the workers.
The leading cause of fatalities and injuries in the construction industry is falling from a particular height. Reports of Bureau of Labor Statistics reveal that 43 percent of all construction fatalities, as well as injuries in the construction industry, is because of falls. Additionally, 20% of these falls involve ladders and scaffolds. These falls are common due to the exposure of workers to risky working conditions such as using scaffolds and ladders when working from a given height. Use of poorly constructed scaffolds and unsuitable ladders is the main cause of these construction falls. Besides, inadequate training on the construction as well as proper use of these scaffolds as well as ladders contributes to the high rates of fatalities due to falls.
Considering the various regulations that have been put in place, it is surprising that the number of fatalities, as well as injuries due to falls, have been increasing. The OSHA updated construction regulations by introducing fall protection measures, but these have failed to reduce the growing numbers. The professionals in the industry are concerned because of the figures that continue to increase despite technological advances as well as strict regulations imposed on the industry. In curbing these, several factors such as the effectiveness of the amendments to the OSHA regulations must be looked into or re-assessed.
Even though the number of injuries and fatalities are high in the industry, it offers employment to approximately 6 percent of the total workforce. The construction sector employs approximately six percent within America and registers twenty percent deaths due to accidents in the workplace. The number of fatalities registered is the highest in comparison to other sectors. About twenty-four thousand, seven hundred and forty fatalities were registered in 2014 within the construction sites. This was the highest fatality rate recorded in the country from a single industry (Bureau of Labour Statistics, 2016). This indicates that the number of fatalities increased in the sector by 3% as compared to the previous year. The number of falls from ladder and scaffolds was 40%; it was one of the highest figures of falls in the history of occupational safety and health. This number is predicted to rise due to poor implementation of OSHA regulations witnessed in the country. In 2015, it was reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) that a total of 12% died in falls believed to be fatal.
Identification of fall hazards and determination of the best method to protect workers from these hazards must be the first step in reducing the fatalities. Measures suggested by OSHA in protection of workers from falls include guardrail systems, safety nets, individual fall protection systems, as well as proper training or safe work practices. The use of controlled access zones, designated areas, and warning signs are permitted under OSHA. All construction sites must develop comprehensive fall protection plans to ensure the fall hazards are identified, and their management is properly catered for (United States Department of Labor, 2016). When using personal systems for fall protection, attachment points must be clearly labeled and employees trained on how to use them.
The OSHA safety standards address safety issues at construction sites, certain temporary structures such as scaffolds, fall protection, as well as ladders. These are the responsibilities of the constructor of the project. Even though these regulations clearly stipulate safety measures at the workplace, they are not always implemented. Poor implementation of these regulations has been believed to be one of the major causes of the increasing fatalities and accidents (Senbon & Hnabushi, 2013). Measures that are easy to implement such as reducing elevation of work levels, proper maintenance of scaffolds or ladders, and using proper climbing techniques may help in the protection of workers from falls.
The ever-changing nature of the construction industry makes implementation of even the simplest measure difficult. Contractors are required to develop, enforce, and implement a well-written as well as comprehensive fall protection plan. This is a requirement under the OSHA regulations. For that reason, it is essential that all contractors, employers, as well as the employees, be trained on the requirements of OSHA. This would enable every stakeholder to be well aware of his or her role in the prevention of falls.
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2016). Databases, Tales & Calculators by Subject. Retrieved May 20, 2016, from Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CSU00X4XXXXX6E100
Hughes, H., & Ferrett, E. (2011). Introduction to Health and Safety at Work: The Handbook for the Nebosh National General Certificate. Armsterdam: Elsevier Publishers.
Kamardeen, I. (2015). Fall Prevention Through Design in Construction: The Benefits of Mobile Computing. London: Routledge Publishers.
Senbon, T., & Hanabushi, F. (2013). Instrumentation Systems: Fundamentals and Applications. London: Springer Publishers
United States Deparment of Labor. (2016). OSHA Law & Regulations. Retrieved May 20, 2016, from United States Department of Labor: https://www.osha.gov/law-regs.html
