For as long as the world spins round, the construction industry is always going to be in full flow. Granted, it will have peaks and troughs like any industry, but at the same time this is one which can keep on going even through major economic problems. There will always be housing shortages, big infrastructure projects and other things that just keep this industry ticking over.
Something that a lot of people who don’t work within construction don’t realize are the risks. There are plenty of stereotypes doing the rounds about construction sites, but when you look deeper into this type of work there are a lot of risks for workers. This is what today’s post is going to talk about, as we analyze some of these risks in added detail. Whether you are attempting a self-build project, or a career in construction, try and keep these risks in the back of your mind.
The hidden modern-day risk
Let’s start with something that is consuming a lot of attention at the moment, and probably will be for the foreseeable future. We are in the middle of a pandemic with coronavirus and for a construction worker, this can prompt some difficult scenarios. There is a lot of mixed advice for workers in this industry and like it or not, even though the work tends to take place outside, the risks still exist.
Workers will come in contact with fellow workers, while there will be the mutual touching of surfaces. This means that it is more important than ever to arm yourself with the correct PPE equipment to guard against the virus.
Working at height
To throw some statistics into the mix, it is understood that over 25% of deaths caused on a construction site were due to working at height.
Unfortunately, there’s not an overnight solution here. Instead, it’s all about getting the appropriate training for not just scenarios, but also for various pieces of equipment. This might include scaffolding and ladders, which are two of the riskiest areas.
Slips, trips and falls
Something else that causes injuries and worse to thousands of construction workers every year are slips, trips and falls. The nature of this risk means that it is varied, but this is one area where just basic common sense can help no-end. A lot of risks occur due to obstacles being in the way, uneven or wet surfaces or even trailing cables. If a team can make an extra effort to guard against such causes, these numbers will dwindle substantially.
Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome
This final risk might sound a little specific, but we have included Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome just so you can get an idea of what to look out for when it comes to this industry. There are plenty of other examples like this, but this perhaps provides a flavor of what to be wary of.
Put simply, this is a disease which can affect nerves, joints and your blood vessels. It occurs after the use of vibrating power tools for a long period of time and once a person has it, it can’t be reversed.
It’s understood that there are millions of people who might be at risk from suffering from HAVS, but on the plus side it can be prevented. It’s all about being aided with the appropriate safety equipment and planning work accordingly. In other words, you should only be looking to use these tools for ten minutes at a time, with substantial breaks in-between.