According to research, roughly 40,000 construction workers suffer many injuries, from the nerves to the joints. This value is alarming as it indicates that the safety and well-being of employees in the construction sector are not being taken seriously enough.
Construction workers handle heavy items throughout their working hours, and excessive weight poses a threat to their health and quality of life without proper management.
The following two months (October and November) will see the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) carrying out a thousand inspections on how construction workers are made to handle heavy materials. These inspections will also examine whether employers are placing their employees at risk of harm and taking the necessary precautions to ensure all workers are in a safe environment to carry out their tasks.
Teaching employees how to move bulky objects properly should not result in severe aches, pains, or strains. The high value of injuries suffered by construction workers suggests that employers are not taking the necessary steps to educate their employees, a task that is vital in training workers.
Sarah Jardine, HSE's Head of Construction, said, "Everyone involved in construction has a role to play in keeping people safe. Risks must be managed where they can't be prevented, and risk management arrangements must be reviewed frequently to ensure they are effective."
"We want everyone in the industry, from designers to contractors and their workers, to be aware of the risks associated with any moving or lifting task and put appropriate measures in place."
"Workers' health must be considered when planning construction work to carry out their jobs without fear of injuring themselves, including being provided with the correct equipment to lift safely.
"Thankfully, measures can be taken to prevent muscle, bone, joint, and nerve injuries. Doing so is good for workers and good for the construction industry. It's good for business."
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