Construction site safety is an aspect of
construction
Construction are processes involved in delivering buildings, infrastructure, industrial facilities, and associated activities through to the end of their life. It typically starts with planning, financing, and design that continues until the a ...
-related activities concerned with protecting construction site workers and others from death, injury, disease or other health-related risks. Construction is an often hazardous, predominantly land-based activity where site workers may be exposed to various risks, some of which remain unrecognized. Site risks can include working at height, moving machinery (vehicles,
cranes, etc.) and materials, power tools and electrical equipment, hazardous substances, plus the effects of excessive noise, dust and vibration. The leading causes of construction site fatalities are falls,
electrocution
Electrocution is death or severe injury caused by electric shock from electric current passing through the body. The word is derived from "electro" and "execution", but it is also used for accidental death.
The term "electrocution" was coined ...
s, crush injuries, and caught-between injuries.
Overview
According to the
International Labour Organization
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a United Nations agency whose mandate is to advance social and economic justice by setting international labour standards. Founded in October 1919 under the League of Nations, it is one of the firs ...
, construction has a disproportionately high rate of recorded accidents.
In 2019, the ILO said the top causes of
occupational fatalities on construction sites were falls,
electrocution
Electrocution is death or severe injury caused by electric shock from electric current passing through the body. The word is derived from "electro" and "execution", but it is also used for accidental death.
The term "electrocution" was coined ...
, crush injuries, and caught-between injuries.
Although construction sites face significantly the same hazards, the rate of accidents varies in different regions and countries due to a variety of safety cultures and workers' behavioral safety.
Construction incurs more occupational fatalities than any other sector in both the United States and in the
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...
.
In the US in 2019, 1,061, or about 20%, of worker fatalities in private industry occurred in construction.
Construction has about 6% of US workers, but 17% of the fatalities - the largest number of fatalities reported for any industry sector.
In the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
, the construction industry is responsible for 31% of fatalities at work and 10% of major workplace injuries.
In
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
there are 150 fatalities and approximately 400 injuries each year related to construction sites. In
Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
, the incidence rate for all occupational fatalities is 3.6 per 100,000. Little to no information regarding construction fatalities could be found in Asia, South American, Africa, and the Antarctica. The chart below contains more countries and the rate of construction site fatalities.
Hazards

The leading safety hazards on construction sites include falls, being caught between objects, electrocutions, and being struck by objects.
These hazards have caused injuries and deaths on construction sites throughout the world. Failures in hazard identification are often due to limited or improper training and supervision of workers.
Areas where there is limited training include tasks in design for safety, safety inspection, and monitoring safety.
Failure in any of these areas can result in an increased risk in exposing workers to harm in the construction environment.
Falls are the leading cause of injury in the construction industry, in particularly for elder and untrained construction workers.
Several countries have regulations and guidelines for fall protections to prevent injuries and deaths. In the US the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA; ) is a regulatory agency of the United States Department of Labor that originally had federal visitorial powers to inspect and examine workplaces. The United States Congress established ...
(OSHA) Handbook (29 CFR) states that fall protection is needed in areas including but not limited to ramps, runways, and other walkways; excavations; hoist areas; holes; form-work; leading edge work; unprotected sides and edges; overhand bricklaying and related work; roofing; precast erection; wall openings; floor openings such as holes; residential construction; and other walking/working surfaces. NIOSH developed a
Ladder Safety Appwhich was designed to improve extension and step ladder safety — a concern for those working in construction or any other task that requires ladder use.
Motor vehicle crashes are another major safety hazard on construction sites. It is important to be cautious while operating motor vehicles or equipment on the site. A motor vehicle should have a service brake system, emergency brake system, and a parking brake system. All vehicles must be equipped with an audible warning system if the operator chooses to use it. Vehicles must have windows and doors, power windshield wipers, and a clear view of site from the rear window. All employees should be properly trained before using motor vehicles and equipmen
Employees on construction sites also need to be aware of dangers on the ground. Cables running across roadways were often seen until cable ramp equipment was invented to protect hoses and other equipment which had to be laid out. Another common hazard that workers may face is overexposure to heat and humidity in the environment. Overexertion in this type of weather can lead to serious heat-related illnesses such as
heat stroke
Heat stroke or heatstroke, also known as sun-stroke, is a severe heat illness that results in a body temperature greater than , along with red skin, headache, dizziness, and confusion. Sweating is generally present in exertional heatstro ...
,
heat exhaustion
Heat exhaustion is a heat-related illness characterized by the body's inability to effectively cool itself, typically occurring in high ambient temperatures or during intense physical exertion. In heat exhaustion, core body temperature ranges from ...
, and
heat cramps
Heat cramps, a type of heat illness, are muscle spasms that result from loss of large amount of salt and water through exercise. Heat cramps are associated with cramping in the abdomen, arms and calves. This can be caused by inadequate consumption ...
.
Noise
Noise is sound, chiefly unwanted, unintentional, or harmful sound considered unpleasant, loud, or disruptive to mental or hearing faculties. From a physics standpoint, there is no distinction between noise and desired sound, as both are vibrat ...
is also an occupational hazard, a 2019 study found that construction sites had the highest noise levels when compared to several other industries. Other hazards found on construction site include
asbestos
Asbestos ( ) is a group of naturally occurring, Toxicity, toxic, carcinogenic and fibrous silicate minerals. There are six types, all of which are composed of long and thin fibrous Crystal habit, crystals, each fibre (particulate with length su ...
,
solvents
A solvent (from the Latin '' solvō'', "loosen, untie, solve") is a substance that dissolves a solute, resulting in a solution. A solvent is usually a liquid but can also be a solid, a gas, or a supercritical fluid. Water is a solvent for p ...
,
noise
Noise is sound, chiefly unwanted, unintentional, or harmful sound considered unpleasant, loud, or disruptive to mental or hearing faculties. From a physics standpoint, there is no distinction between noise and desired sound, as both are vibrat ...
, and manual handling activities.
Infectious diseases
According to BLS data, about 1 out of 12 construction workers are exposed to infectious diseases more than once a month.
This could happen because, in general, many employees continue to work while sick. Scientists studying this topic have reviewed many studies and found that the percentage of people who report going to work while sick ranges from more than a third to nearly 100%. An estimated 8 million employees in the U.S. worked while infected during the 2009 H1N1 influenza epidemic, which likely caused infection of up to 7 million co-workers.
Infectious diseases that occur among construction workers include valley fever (in the southwestern U.S., including California), histoplasmosis (especially in the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys), silico-tuberculosis, and
tetanus
Tetanus (), also known as lockjaw, is a bacterial infection caused by ''Clostridium tetani'' and characterized by muscle spasms. In the most common type, the spasms begin in the jaw and then progress to the rest of the body. Each spasm usually l ...
.
Exposures from certain construction activities have been associated with an increased risk of death from infectious disease. A Swedish study of more than 300,000 male construction workers found increased mortality from pneumonia infection among workers exposed to inorganic dust, such as man-made mineral fibers, dust from cement, concrete, and quartz.
Infection prevention and control (IPC) plans should be considered as an important component of all construction site occupational safety and health plans. IPC guidelines are most successful with clear communication and mandatory training.
COVID-19 among construction workers
In 2019, nearly 60% of the construction work force had at least one COVID-19 risk factor (age 65+, medical condition, or others) for higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. About 1.4 million or 12.3% of construction workers were age 60 or older.
One in five (19.7%) construction workers had a respiratory disease, and one in four (25.8%) had cancer, diabetes, or heart, kidney, or liver disease.
About 30% of construction workers were Hispanic who make up 17.7% of workers in all industries.
Th
Center for Construction Research and Training(CPWR) has developed a COVID-19 Construction Clearinghouse with a vast array of COVID-19 resources, developed specifically for the construction industry. Additional resources can be found at the bottom of this page and
workplace hazard controls for COVID-19
Hazard controls for COVID-19 in workplaces are the application of occupational safety and health methodologies for hazard controls to the prevention of COVID-19. Multiple layers of controls are recommended, including measures such as remote wor ...
. Construction sites should implement safety measures to prevent the spread of infection. Industry-specific guidance documents for COVID-19 have been developed by various governmental and professional organizations. The CDC provides COVID-19 guidelines for construction workers. The CDC provides the following recommendations for the worksite which are applicable to several infectious diseases: Limit close contact with others by maintaining a distance of six feet or wearing cloth face covering when this is difficult. Limit tool sharing. Clean and disinfect surfaces at the beginning and end of your shift and throughout the day. Surfaces that need cleaning include shared tools, machines, vehicles, equipment, handrails, ladders, doorknobs, and portable toilets.
Road construction
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 created over 12,600 road construction projects, over 10,000 of which were in progress as of 2010. Workers in highway work zones are exposed to a variety of hazards and face risk of injury and death from construction equipment as well as passing motor vehicles. Workers on foot are exposed to passing traffic, often at high speeds, while workers who operate construction vehicles are at risk of injury due to overturn, collision, or being caught in running equipment. Regardless of the task assigned,
construction worker
A construction worker is a person employed in the physical construction of the built environment and its infrastructure.
Definitions
By some definitions, construction workers may be engaged in manual labour as unskilled or semi-skilled workers ...
s work in conditions in poor lighting, poor visibility, inclement weather, congested work areas, high volume traffic and speeds. In 2011, there were a total of 119 fatal occupation fatalities in road construction sites.
In 2010 there were 37,476 injuries in work zones; about 20,000 of those were to construction workers.
Causes of road work site injuries included being struck by objects, trucks or mobile equipment (35%), falls or slips (20%), overexertion (15%), transportation incidents (12%), and exposure to harmful substances or environments (5%). Causes of fatalities included getting hit by trucks (58%), mobile machinery (22%), and automobiles (13%).
Road construction safety remains a priority among workers. Several states have implemented campaigns addressing construction zone dangers and encouraging motorists to use caution when driving through work zones.
National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week is held yearly. The national event began in 1999 and has gained popularity and media attention each year since. The purpose of the event is to draw national attention to motorist and worker safety issues in work zones.
Common chemicals
Construction workers
A construction worker is a person employed in the physical construction of the built environment and its infrastructure.
Definitions
By some definitions, construction workers may be engaged in manual labour as unskilled or semi-skilled workers ...
exposure to hazardous chemicals on construction sites is common. Hazardous chemicals can be found in many materials construction workers interact with daily life in paints, glues, fuels, dust, and insulation. Many construction sites use cements that contain harmful mineral binders, such as crystalline silica,
calcium oxide
Calcium oxide (formula: Ca O), commonly known as quicklime or burnt lime, is a widely used chemical compound. It is a white, caustic, alkaline, crystalline solid at room temperature. The broadly used term '' lime'' connotes calcium-containing ...
, and
chromium
Chromium is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Cr and atomic number 24. It is the first element in Group 6 element, group 6. It is a steely-grey, Luster (mineralogy), lustrous, hard, and brittle transition metal.
Chromium ...
. Many of these chemicals are corrosive if in contact with the skin and damage the lungs if inhaled. Continuous skin contact with wet cement can eventually cause chemical burns.
Chromium
Chromium is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Cr and atomic number 24. It is the first element in Group 6 element, group 6. It is a steely-grey, Luster (mineralogy), lustrous, hard, and brittle transition metal.
Chromium ...
can cause allergic reactions, such as respiratory allergies, leading to
occupational asthma
Occupational asthma is new onset asthma or the recurrence of previously quiescent asthma directly caused by exposure to an agent at workplace. It is an occupational lung disease and a type of work-related asthma. Agents that can induce occupationa ...
.
Exposure to cement dust by eye contact and/or inhalation can also have vast effects on workers' health leading to lung to term chronic diseases or blindness.
Construction site workers can also be exposed to
asbestos
Asbestos ( ) is a group of naturally occurring, Toxicity, toxic, carcinogenic and fibrous silicate minerals. There are six types, all of which are composed of long and thin fibrous Crystal habit, crystals, each fibre (particulate with length su ...
, most commonly used in heat insulation. The
asbestos fibers can cause respiratory and lung problems if inhaled.
Harmful chemicals are also found in paint used by workers on construction sites. Paints contain materials like binders, solvents, and pigments that give the desired color. Resins can be made of many things like polyurethane, epoxy, vinyl acetate, and other similar compounds. Resin is most commonly used to protect materials from corrosion and damage but can also be absorbed through the skin.
Solvents are used for binders and varnishes.
Solvents
A solvent (from the Latin '' solvō'', "loosen, untie, solve") is a substance that dissolves a solute, resulting in a solution. A solvent is usually a liquid but can also be a solid, a gas, or a supercritical fluid. Water is a solvent for p ...
are most commonly petroleum-based chemicals mixed with pigment and binders. Constant exposure to solvents by inhalation could increase the risk of chronic illness. A common compound found in solvents is
benzene
Benzene is an Organic compound, organic chemical compound with the Chemical formula#Molecular formula, molecular formula C6H6. The benzene molecule is composed of six carbon atoms joined in a planar hexagonal Ring (chemistry), ring with one hyd ...
which is widely known to cause
leukemia
Leukemia ( also spelled leukaemia; pronounced ) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and produce high numbers of abnormal blood cells. These blood cells are not fully developed and are called ''blasts'' or '' ...
from exposure.
Some solvents can also cause hearing loss from their
ototoxicity
Ototoxicity is the property of being toxic to the ear (''oto-''), specifically the cochlea or auditory nerve and sometimes the vestibular system, for example, as a side effect of a drug. The effects of ototoxicity can be reversible and tempora ...
. Pigments might contain heavy metals such as zinc and lead.
Lead-based paints are extremely toxic and when exposed to the body can cause many harmful effects. Lead is absorbed into the body when workers inhale lead as dust, fumes, or mist from the paint. Children born to parents who were exposed to excess lead levels are more likely to have birth defects, mental disabilities, or behavioral disorders or to die during the first year of childhood.
PPE for Chemical Protection
The construction industry is responsible for 5-15% of the economy of most countries. Working as a construction worker is one of the most dangerous occupations, with nearly more than 60,000 annual fatalities worldwide.
This is why it is not only essential for construction workers to use PPE, but it’s important that they use them properly.
In construction sites, there are many chemical hazards that serve as potential threats to the workers. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is required by law to protect and minimize exposure to these hazards. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires many categories of PPE to meet Hazard Communication Standards.
Hazard communication standards provide criteria for hazard classification, chemical labels, safety data sheets, and information on training.
Personal protective equipment like face shields, gloves, respirators, and protective clothing is important in order to protect construction workers from chemical hazard threats like skin absorption, chemical burns, and inhalation of fumes. There have been studies shown that prove that there is a higher prevalence of work-related accidents among construction workers when there is low use of PPE and a lower prevalence of accidents when there is a higher use of PPE.
Studies also show that PPE reduces other health-related risks such as respiratory illnesses and chemical-related conditions in environments with high chemical exposure. (2 peer reviewed). Although it is important for construction workers to wear the proper PPE especially when handling chemical equipment, it is also important that they are properly trained. The Joint Commission emphasizes the importance of proper PPE training. They promote the regular need for audits and assessments of worker compliance and the condition of PPE in order to maintain a safe work environment.
Compliance with OSHA requirements, coupled with appropriate PPE selection and frequent worker training, is essential for lowering the dangers associated with chemical exposure in construction site settings. PPE is not just a critical barrier to danger, but it is also an essential component of a safety culture that protects workers’ long-term health.
Hazard controls
Site preparation aids in preventing injury and death on construction sites. Site preparation includes removing debris, leveling the ground, filling holes, cutting tree roots, and marking gas, water, and electric pipelines. Another prevention method on the construction site is to provide a scaffold that is rigid and sufficient to carry its own weight plus four times the maximum intended load without settling or displacement.
Ways to prevent injuries and improve safety include:
* Management safety
* Integrate safety as a part of the job
* Design a safety management system and setup KPIs
* Apply technology to help overall site monitoring
* Create accountability at all levels
* Take safety into account during the project planning process
* Make sure the contractors are pre-qualified for safety
* Make sure the workers are properly trained in appropriate areas
* Have a fall protection system
* Prevent and address substance abuse to employees
* Review accidents and near misses, as well as regular inspections
* Innovative safety training, e.g. adoption of virtual reality in training
* Replace some of the works by robots (many workers may worry that this will decrease their employment rate)
* Adoption of BIM with three dimensional printing to make the building model first before put into real practice
The employees or employers are responsible for providing fall protection systems and to ensure the use of systems.
Fall protection can be provided by guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal fall arrest systems, positioning device systems, and warning line systems. Making sure that ladders are long enough to safely reach the work area to prevent injury. Stairway, treads, and walkways must be free of dangerous objects, debris and materials. A registered professional
engineer
Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who Invention, invent, design, build, maintain and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials. They aim to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while ...
should design a protective system for
trench
A trench is a type of digging, excavation or depression in the ground that is generally deeper than it is wide (as opposed to a swale (landform), swale or a bar ditch), and narrow compared with its length (as opposed to a simple hole or trapping ...
es 20 feet deep or greater for safety reasons. To prevent injury with
cranes, they should be inspected for any damage. The operator should know the maximum weight of the load that the crane is to lift. All operators should be trained and certified to ensure that they operate forklifts safely.
There are multiple digital tools that can be implemented to monitor over all site safety- including online inductions to construction sites, a digital site log, online construction site safety measurement and digital access control. Digital software keeps all construction inspections in one place and provides a permanent safety record for reporting purposes to help ensure job sites and equipment are safe.
Operational Excellence Model to improve safety for construction organizations
There are 16 safety drivers associated with this model to improve safety for construction organizations:
# Recognition & Reward
# Employee Engagement
# Subcontractor Management
# Training & Competence
# Risk Awareness, Management & Tolerance
# Learning Organization
# Human Performance
# Transformational Leadership
# Shared Values, Beliefs, and Assumptions
# Strategic Safety Communication
# Just & Fair Practices and Procedures
# Worksite Organization
# Owner's Role
# Digital transformation
# Knowledge transfer management
# Automation process
Each safety driver mentioned above has some sub-elements attributed to it.
Education and safety
Construction workers need to be properly trained and educated on the task or job before working, which will assist in preventing injuries and deaths. There are many methods of training construction workers. One method is coaching construction site foremen to include safety in their daily verbal exchanges with workers to reduce work-related accidents.
It is important that the workers use the same language to assure the best communication. In recent years, apart from traditional face to face safety knowledge sharing, mobile apps also make knowledge sharing possible.
Another method is ensuring that all workers know how to properly use electronics, conveyors,
skid-steer
A skid loader, skid-steer loader (SSL), or skidsteer is any of a class of compact heavy equipment with lift arms that can attach to a wide variety of buckets and other labor-saving tools or attachments.
The wheels typically have no separate ste ...
, trucks,
aerial lift
An aerial lift, also known as a cable car or ropeway, is a means of cable transport in which ''cabins'', ''cars'', ''Gondola lift, gondolas'', or Chairlift, open chairs are hauled above the ground by means of one or more Wire rope, cables. Aeria ...
s, and other equipment on the construction site. Equipment on the job site must be properly maintained and inspected regularly before and after each shift. The equipment inspection system will help the operator make sure that a machine is mechanically sound and in safe operating conditions. An employee should be assigned to inspect equipment to insure proper safety. Equipment should have lights and reflectors if intended for night use. The glass in the cab of the equipment must be safety glass in some countries. The equipment must be used for its intended task at all times on the job site to insure workers' safety.
Each construction site should have a construction site manager. This is an occupational health and safety specialist who designs and implements safety regulations to minimize injuries and accidents.
He or she also is in charge of conducting daily safety audits and inspections to ensure compliance with government regulations.
Most construction site managers have an entry level experience or higher degree.
Before any excavation takes place, the contractor is responsible for notifying all applicable companies that excavation work is being performed. During excavation, the contractor is responsible for providing a safe work environment for employees and pedestrians.
Access and egress are also important parts of excavation safety.
Ramps used by equipment must be designed by a person qualified in structural design.
No person is allowed to cross underneath or stand underneath any loading or digging equipment. Employees are to remain at a safe distance from all equipment while it is operational. Employees who have training and education in the above areas will benefit their co-workers and themselves on the construction site.
OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard in Construction Industries
Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) refers to laws created by OSHA for the purpose of keeping workers safe by having standards about how information about chemical hazards at jobsites are communicated to workers. This is meant to make sure that employees understand the safety-relevant facts of the chemicals they’re working around, allowing them to take protective measures against any chemical hazards. They were first put into effect in 1983, but at this time did not include the construction industry. Then, in 1987, they were expanded to include every industry where workers are exposed to potentially hazardous chemicals which includes the construction industry. As written in OSHA’s regulations, the HCS of the construction industry are the same as those OSHA set forth generally, even if they are contracted by a company within a company.
In the
hierarchy of hazard controls
Hierarchy of hazard control is a system used in industry to prioritize possible interventions to minimize or eliminate exposure to hazards. It is a widely accepted system promoted by numerous safety organizations. This concept is taught to manage ...
, Hazard Communication Standards are an example of administrative controls, meaning that they involve work processes that reduce exposure to hazards. A HCS-compliant employer provides factually correct labels on chemical containers,
safety data sheets (SDS) on any hazardous chemical present, workplace training involving hazardous chemicals, and a physical, written hazard communication program. These four requirements work in tandem to keep construction employees safer from chemical hazards than they would otherwise be by decreasing their exposure to the chemicals they work with.
National Safety Stand Down
Every spring in the United States, many safety organizations sponsor a voluntary week-long campaign to raise awareness about falls in construction, the leading cause of death for construction workers.
This event provides employers the opportunity to discuss safety hazards such as falls and how to prevent them. Even if a company doesn't have employees exposed to fall hazards, the safety awareness campaign can still be used to discuss other job hazards, prevention methods, and company safety policies.
In 2016, falls from elevation caused 92 of the 115 fatalities in the roofing industry as well as 384 of the 991 overall construction fatalities recorded.
In 2016, falls from elevation were the leading cause of construction worker deaths in the U.S., fatally injuring more than 310 construction workers seriously injuring another 10,350 by falls from elevation. In 2016, the main causes of these construction related fall fatalities were falls from roofs (124), ladders (104), and scaffolds (60). Eighty one percent of deaths from roofs occur in the construction industry, 57% of deaths from ladders occur in the construction industry, and 86% of deaths from scaffolds occur in the construction industry.
Several of the top 10 most frequently cited OSHA violations every year involve fall-protection safety standards.
Annual number of construction fatalities in the United States are listed in the table below:
The program was originally launched as a two-year project on Workers Memorial Day in 2012 to raise awareness about preventing falls in construction, but due to its success, it has been continued at the start of every construction season.
In 2015, over 150 public events were held across the country, with over 150,000 workers and 1.5 million US Air Force personnel participating.
Organizations partnering with OSHA to sponsor this annual event include the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH, ) is the List of United States federal agencies, United States federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related occ ...
(NIOSH), the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), the
American Society of Safety Professionals
The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), formerly known as American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), is a global organization of occupational safety and health (OSH) professional members who manage, supervise, research and consu ...
(ASSP), the
National Safety Council
The National Safety Council (NSC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public service organization promoting health and safety in the United States. Headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, NSC is a member organization, founded in 1913 and granted a congress ...
,
and many others.
Resources to assist employers in finding activities are also available from multiple sources. The
National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and NIOSH have made several fall-prevention videos available to the public on YouTube, amon
others The National Roofing Contractors Association has published three video webinars available for viewing. The Lergent Developers has published a mobile app available for download, which helps workers to find authorized fall prevention course provider.
Personal protective equipment
Hard hat
A hard hat is a type of helmet predominantly used in hazardous environments such as industrial or construction sites to protect the Human head, head from injury due to falling objects (such as tools and debris), impact with other objects, and ...
s,
steel-toe boot
A steel-toe boot (also known as a safety boot, steel-capped boot, steel toecaps or safety shoe) is a durable boot or shoe that has a protective reinforcement in the toe which protects the foot from falling objects or compression. Safety shoes ar ...
s and
reflective safety vests are perhaps the most common personal protective equipment worn by construction workers around the world. A
risk assessment
Risk assessment is a process for identifying hazards, potential (future) events which may negatively impact on individuals, assets, and/or the environment because of those hazards, their likelihood and consequences, and actions which can mitigate ...
may deem that other protective equipment is appropriate, such as
glove
A glove is a garment covering the hand, with separate sheaths or openings for each finger including the thumb. Gloves protect and comfort hands against cold or heat, damage by friction, abrasion or chemicals, and disease; or in turn to provide a ...
s,
goggles
Goggles, or safety glasses, are forms of protective eyewear that usually enclose or protect the area surrounding the eye in order to prevent particulates, water or chemicals from striking the eyes. They are used in chemistry laboratories and ...
, or
high-visibility clothing
High-visibility clothing, sometimes shortened to hi vis or hi viz, is any clothing worn that is highly luminescent in its natural matt property or a color that is easily discernible from any background. It is most commonly worn on the torso an ...
.
Company size
As the company size increases, the incidence rate drops due to the provision of better occupational health and safety programs.
Hazards and hazard controls for non-workers
Many construction sites cannot completely exclude non-workers. Road construction sites must often allow traffic to pass through. This places non-workers at some degree of risk.
Road construction sites are blocked off and traffic is redirected. The sites and vehicles are protected by signs and barricades. However, sometimes even these signs and barricades can be a hazard to vehicle traffic. For example, improperly designed barricades can cause cars that strike them to roll over or even be thrown into the air. Even a simple safety sign can penetrate the windshield or roof of a car if it strikes from certain angles.
The majority of deaths in construction are caused by hazards relating to construction activity. However, many deaths are also caused by non construction activities, such as electrical hazards.
Construction safety research in academia
Construction safety has been considered as a hot topic in academic research. As per the latest research. the largest number of published construction safety documents were published by scholars from the US and China; the total number of published articles by these two countries was 1,125, at 56% of the 2000 articles that were published. Both countries showed high levels of research collaboration. While the results suggest that economic development may drive academic construction safety research, there has been an increase in construction safety research conducted by developing countries in recent years, probably due to an improvement in their economic development. While authors’ keywords evidenced the popularity of research on safety management and climate, the network analysis on all keywords, i.e. keywords given by Web of Science and authors, suggest that construction safety research focused on three areas: construction safety management, the relationship between people and construction safety, and the protection and health of workers’ impact on construction safety. There is a new interdisciplinary research trend where construction safety combines with digital technologies, with the largest number involving deep learning. Other trends focus on machine learning, Building Information Modelling, machine learning and visualisation.
Regulation
European Union
In Europe, the
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) is a decentralised agency of the European Union with the task of collecting, analysing and disseminating relevant information that can serve the needs of businesses, governments and sp ...
coordinates actions at the EU and national levels and the
Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion is responsible for regulation at the EU level.
Under
European Union Law
European Union law is a system of Supranational union, supranational Law, laws operating within the 27 member states of the European Union (EU). It has grown over time since the 1952 founding of the European Coal and Steel Community, to promote ...
, there are
European Union Directive
A directive is a legal act of the European Union that requires member states to achieve particular goals without dictating how the member states achieve those goals. A directive's goals have to be made the goals of one or more new or changed n ...
s in place to protect workers, notably Directive 89/391 (the Framework Directive) and Directive 92/57 (the Temporary and Mobile Sites Directive). This legislation is transposed into the Member States and places requirements on employers (and others) to assess and protect workers health and safety.
United Kingdom
In the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
, the
Health and Safety Executive
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a British public body responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare. It has additionally adopted a research role into occupational risks in Great B ...
(HSE) is responsible for standards enforcement, while in
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...
, the
Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) is responsible. In
Ireland
Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...
, the
Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is responsible for standards and enforcement.
United States
In the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
, the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA; ) is a regulatory agency of the United States Department of Labor that originally had federal visitorial powers to inspect and examine workplaces. The United States Congress established ...
(OSHA) sets and enforces standards concerning workplace safety and health. Efforts have been made in the first decade of the 21st century to improve safety for both road workers and drivers in construction zones. In 2004, Title 23 Part 630 Subpart J of the Code of Federal Regulations was updated by Congress to include new regulations that direct state agencies to systematically create and adopt comprehensive plans to address safety in road construction zones that receive federal funding.
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two programs, the Federal-aid Highway Program a ...
DOT
Final rule"">"Work Zone Safety and Mobility > Final rule"
''Federal Register
The ''Federal Register'' (FR or sometimes Fed. Reg.) is the government gazette, official journal of the federal government of the United States that contains government agency rules, proposed rules, and public notices. It is published every wee ...
Vol. 69, No. 174'', September 9, 2004.
OSHA implemented the Final Rule to Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses, which went into effect January 1, 2017. It requires employers to submit incident data electronically to OSHA. This data will enable OSHA to use enforcement and compliance assistance resources more efficiently. The amount of data required varies by company and industry.
According to the latest statistics from OSHA, there are more than 13 job-related deaths each day in the U.S. with one in five of these being in the construction industry.
Hong Kong
Health Disparities Among Hispanic Construction Workers in the United States
Hispanics make up a sizeable portion of the construction workforce: in 2019, 30.4% of construction workers were Hispanic, compared to 17.7% of workers in all industries.
Approximately 1 in 4 US construction workers did not have health insurance in 2018, more than double the uninsured rate among all US workers. Almost half (48%) or 2 in 4 Hispanic construction workers were uninsured, more than triple that of their non-Hispanic counterparts (13%). Compared to their White counterparts, the rate of fatal injuries for Hispanics is 41% higher. In addition, research has found that nearly half of all work-associated fatalities among Hispanics occur in small construction establishments with 1-10 employees. In the period 2003–2008, falling from elevated heights was the main contributor to 40% of all deaths for Hispanic construction workers. In terms of nonfatal injuries experienced by Hispanic workers, contact with objects (43.0%) was the leading cause. Of great concern is that minority workers have a higher risk of suffering from occupational illness and injury.
US labor laws that create barriers to organizing a union, immigration policies, unregulated, unsafe work places, lack of health insurance, misclassified workers who lose protections, being an essential worker, not having sick leave, distrust of the healthcare system, language barriers, and the cost of missing work are just some of the possible contributing factors to this health disparity.
Construction safety informatics and the role of artificial intelligence on construction safety
Li (2019) proposes that there are three generations of construction safety
informatics
Informatics is the study of computational systems. According to the Association for Computing Machinery, ACM Europe Council and Informatics Europe, informatics is synonymous with computer science and computing as a profession, in which the centra ...
which are relevant to construction safety enhancement:
#The first generation of construction safety informatics consisted of technologies that relied completely on control by human beings; for example, structural equation modelling requires the work of an analyst.
#The second generation of construction safety informatics included smart features such as the Internet of Things which can send information to human operators, without human intervention — from sensors, etc. Yet, these “smart” tools cannot learn and improve on their own capabilities.
#The third generation of construction safety informatics uses state-of-the-art AI, to mimic human behavior and think, act, learn and improve on its own decision making. All that is required is that the relevant information is fed to these systems, so that they can be ‘taught’.
See also
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Occupational hygiene
Occupational hygiene or industrial hygiene (IH) is the Anticipate, recognize, evaluate, control, and confirm, anticipation, recognition, evaluation, control, and confirmation (ARECC) of protection from risks associated with exposures to hazards ...
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References
Further reading
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External links
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health - ConstructionThe Center for Construction Research and Training*Video
Protecting Against Noise Hazards at My JobNational Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 2024
*Video
Protecting My Workers Against Noise Hazards National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 2024
NAPO short videosfor safety in the workplace.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Construction site safety
Occupational safety and health
Construction