Construction workers know they have to face risks. They can’t avoid them. They use power tools and saws. They work at heights. They work around electricity. They use heavy equipment and vehicles. These are all activities that come with inherent risks, but they’re part of the industry. They can’t get around that.
What they want to do, then, is focus on controlling the risks. What can they do?
One example is using fall protection equipment when working at heights. Workers will often wear a harness and clip into protection points, just like a mountain climber. Unlike a barricade or a lift, this type of protection does not seek to prevent the fall from happening. Instead, it controls the risk by limiting the injury potential if the worker does fall.
This focus on safety has to be constant. Workers need to get proper training. They need to practice. They have to ask questions if they ever need clarification on a key point. They have to inspect their gear.
Most of all, they need to know that safety is more important than anything else. A lot of injuries happen because workers are rushing to get a job done quickly, but what they really need to do is slow down, try to stay as safe as possible and just accept that it may take a little longer to get the job done. The entire company needs to have this focus.
Controlling and limiting risks can help, and it can save lives. It will not prevent all accidents and all injuries. Therefore, those who get hurt must know what legal steps they can take to seek proper compensation.