HEALTH & SAFETY

Health and Safety

Health and Safety

Introduction

The construction sector is labeled as quite dangerous industry globally. According to the UK's statistical record, the UK Construction Industry encompasses a place of being the most Hazardous industry even after the remarkable improvements made during the last decade. The reason due to which the construction industry is remarked as hazardous is due to its poor safety measures and catastrophic events that occurred throughout the history. Statistics from the HSE (Health & Safety Executive UK) showed that in the year 2009-2010 there were 42 accidents that proved fatal to the workers, making the UK construction sector approximately five times more vulnerable to the construction site hazards (Whitelaw, 2001, pp.22-24).

Understanding the reason of the construction industry being so vulnerable has been a major focus and a cornerstone for providing the basic health and security measure for the prevention of such hazardous events, that remains the foremost key to cease such events at construction sites. However, all the activities conducted at the research site comprise of series of tasks that are to be executed by the operatives responsible for construction. The foremost aim and objective for the prevention of any such hazard at the construction site include reducing the accident rate at the construction site by improving the level of the hazard identification at the construction site which may vary from project to project that the construction company is working on. Assessing the risk and making the risk calculation the major base for taking appropriate actions and control measures to cease it for creating a safer and healthier workplace environment and also for building competence in identifying as well as managing the risks efficiently for managing a healthy, safe and risk free environment at the construction site.

Discussion

Key Hazards associated with Construction

The construction Industry is largely linked with the issues relevant with the catastrophic events injuring and even causing death of hundreds of workers throughout the history. The UK construction industry remains the most likely to get affected by such catastrophic events. In the year 1998 the average annual fatal accident rate per 100,000 employees was about 5.6 (Carter and Smith, 2006, pp.197-198).

The Hazards associated with the construction occurring at the construction sites normally vary in nature from project to project. However, the most common hazards listed in accordance with the intensity of their occurrence at the construction sites include falling down from a certain height during the construction process, the crash injuries that often happen during the excavation work. Slipping or stripping from or due to the materials being used in the construction that may cause a serious injury. Being struck by the falling object or any sort of injury caused by moving the heavy object during the construction due to inefficient technology or automated machines. Often the cases of being struck by any sort of workplace vehicle, receipt of any injury by the tools utilized at the construction site.

Often people having breathing problems like asthma develop more serious health problems by the inhalation ...