Construction Safety Week was created to bring attention to the serious problem associated with workplace injuries and deaths within the construction industry. This year it runs from May 2-6 and occurs alongside the National Safety Stand-Down. This is an annual effort from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to prevent falls in construction.
These efforts highlight the dangerous nature of construction work, which had the most workplace deaths in 2020 according to the National Safety Council (NSC). A significant amount of these come from falls, which caused 351 of the 1,0008 deaths on construction jobsites in 2020 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In addition to deaths, thousands of non-fatal injuries occur every year, making construction one of the most dangerous industries for workers.
Today we want to talk about some safety resources you can use to bring awareness to all areas of safety on construction jobsites.
Construction Safety Week Resources
It is clear that construction work is dangerous, but where does all the danger come from? While the issue of safety on construction jobsites is complicated, many incidents can be attributed to the following problems:
- Construction workers are often in dangerous settings like high above ground, underground or near heavy objects that are not yet secure.
- Construction work involves the use of heavy equipment, and equipment that is inherently dangerous during operation.
- A construction jobsite can be full of moving hazards with many people working on various tasks within a confined space.
- Construction workers work long hours, often in unfavorable conditions leading to exhaustion which can increase mistakes and accidents.
- Construction workers may be exposed to potentially dangerous substances and problems like dust, dangerously loud sounds and environmental hazards that cause injuries and illness.
Other than threats of physical injury and illness, there is an increased mental health issues associated with the construction industry. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), workers in the construction industry have the highest suicide rates in comparison to other industries. When you consider the physical and mental health issues, it is easy to see that much more needs to be done to elevate workers within the world of construction.
If you work within the construction industry and want to help improve safety and wellness within your organization, the following resources can help you get a head start:
Construction safety courses (OSHA)
Fall prevention safety guide (OSHA)
Fall protection in residential construction
Mental Health in Construction
Construction suicide prevention (Construction Safety Alliance)
5 Tips for construction workers dealing with anxiety
You can also find a wealth of construction safety resources translated in several different languages including Spanish, Polish, Russian and Portuguese by visiting this link.
The material presented here is educational in nature and is not intended to be, nor should be relied upon, as legal or financial advice. Please consult with an attorney or financial professional for advice.
