New cannabis bill could see construction taking the high road
The proposed amendments to the Cannabis for Private Purposes bill that seeks to further decriminalise cannabis usage and legalise South…
The proposed amendments to the Cannabis for Private Purposes bill that seeks to further decriminalise cannabis usage and legalise South…
Christopher Gordon, University of Ghana Ghana has six designated Ramsar sites. These are wetlands designated under the criteria of the…
Adewumi Badiora, Olabisi Onabanjo University Nigeria has a very high crime rate. The Global Peace Index ranked it the world’s…
Inner city living is boosting the city residential property market and driving urban rejuvenation Inner cities. Love them or hate…
Raphael M. Kieti, University of Nairobi; Robert W. Rukwaro, University of Nairobi, and Washington H.A. Olima, University of Nairobi In…
Waterfall is closing the loop on waste Waterfall prioritises sustainability and responsible environmental stewardship as a strategic imperative, keeping the…
Introducing Helsinki EcoWood by EcoCeramic Ceràmica. Right now, the hybrid Japandi trend is rising fast, with its calming combination of…
Flagstaff, located in the OR Tambo district in the Eastern Cape, began its existence as a trading post and essentially…
There can be no doubt that the construction industry remains an extremely dangerous industry for workers, based purely on the unacceptably high number of accidents which occur resulting in injuries to employees every year.
Statistics released by the Federated Employers Mutual Assurance Company (FEM) states that there were 47 844 injuries requiring medical attention in the period 2015 to 2020. Two of the major contributors to the injuries sustained on construction sites are ‘falling to different levels’ and ‘struck by’.
According to Deon Bester, Occupational Health and Safety Manager at Master Builders’ Association Western Cape (MBAWC), ‘falling to different levels’ and ‘struck by’ are two descriptions used in the statistical reporting system which ties in with the general way of recording and reporting incidents both nationally and internationally.
Falling to different levels:
This definition typically describes an incident in which a person falls while working in an elevated position such as from a ladder or a scaffold.
Struck by:
This definition captures a number of different types of incidents. For instance, a person struck by a motor vehicle while working next to a public road would be classified as a ‘struck by’, as the person was struck by a moving vehicle. Other typical examples of ‘struck by’ injuries would include a brick or timber boards falling on someone.
The FEM stats for the period 2015 to 2020 clearly indicate that there is a serious problem in construction regarding these two specific areas, and it requires immediate attention. Consider the following:
There is thus an urgent need for stringent measures to be put in place to assist in reducing the number of injuries sustained onsite. This can be achieved by not only creating a healthy and safe working environment, but also ensuring that employees always receive the correct training.
Training ought to be ongoing and inclusive, providing employees with an opportunity to share their input with regards to safety protocols and processes. Employees also need to start holding their employers accountable when these processes are not adhered to, and vice versa. By doing this, employers who are neglecting health and safety processes can be reported to the Department of Employment and Labour inspectors.
“As the Master Builders’ Association Western Cape, we continuously strive to assist our members with health and safety compliance processes through ongoing interactions to ensure that they are prioritising worksite safety”, says Bester.
In order to lower the level of accidents which occur onsite, employers need to ensure that their workforce is constantly trained on issues relating to health and safety, and to this end, the MBAWC provides its members with the requisite training.
The MBAWC also has a solid working relationship with FEM, which provides workmen’s compensation cover in the construction industry. It is through this relationship that the MBAWC is able to lend support services to its members, as well as to FEM policyholders.
While ‘falling to different levels’ and ‘struck by’ are being highlighted, the construction industry should not lose sight of all the other accidents that occur on a daily basis in South Africa.
“On average, about 36 people are injured on construction sites daily. This figure relates to employers who are insured by FEM, which means the figure could be slightly higher, considering that injuries are likely to occur in the informal construction sector as well. Our aim as the MBAWC is to assist all our members in reducing the daily cases of injuries, as we believe that no employee should be injured or lose their life at their place of work”, concludes Bester.
Banner Image by bridgesward from Pixabay
Cookie | Duration | Description |
---|---|---|
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". |
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional | 11 months | The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". |
cookielawinfo-checbox-others | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". |
viewed_cookie_policy | 11 months | The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data. |
On Topic ...
Corobrik extends its product range
Well-maintained home achieves a higher price, whether selling or letting
Property practitioners share tips into home renovating