Why are so many construction workers being injured, maimed or killed while working at heights? Construction activities are inherently dangerous and made more so when employers do not heed industry and legislative standards.
The majority of non-compliance issues take place at residential work sites. Industrial and commercial workers are much more likely to be working for companies with established safety programs in place in order to be able to bid on work.
Take a look around any residential construction project and I guarantee that you will find non-compliance issues. Infractions include: no guardrails/barriers, no approved anchor points, not wearing harnesses, harnesses do not fit properly, lanyards not affixed to approved anchor points, lanyards that will not arrest the fall until worker strikes something below or beside them, etc.
Statistics
A review of government compiled health and safety statistics for 2016 show that in Alberta (http://work.alberta.ca/occupational-health-safety/statistics-and-employer-records.html), 34% of all work-related fatalities occurred in the Construction and Construction Trade Services. Twenty-three companies were charged with OH&S violations and six of those (26%) were for contraventions of fall protection standards (falling while installing a window, falling from a roof while clearing snow, falling from a roof while re-seaming panels, etc.). Meanwhile, in British Columbia (https://www.worksafebc.com/en) in 2015, thirty serious construction fall incidents were reported. Of those, 67% included fatalities and fractures (ankles, arms, legs, vertebrae, etc.).
Legislation
Current legislative standards obligate employers to assess work sites and job tasks to identify, measure and mitigate hazards. These requirements also state that employers must follow the hierarchy of controls when determining constraints. The hierarchy includes elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative and personal protective equipment. Elimination or substitution are the best options and should be considered, but are not practical in most of the instances we are discussing. That leaves engineering, administrative and personal protective equipment (PPE) controls:
- Engineering controls for people working at heights include: railings, barriers, safety nets, travel restraint systems, etc.;
- Administrative controls include: pre-job hazard assessments, fall protection plans, fall protection procedures, employee training, signage, etc.;
- PPE controls include but are not limited to fall arrest systems (temporary anchors, connectors, full body harnesses, lanyards, and shock absorbers).
Legislation also states that if PPE is required, management will ensure that workers receive training in their use, care, maintenance and limitations. Management also has a duty to guarantee the availability of the equipment and the utilization thereof.
Why the Non-Compliance
Industry publications and interviewed workers cite numerous reasons that fall systems are not being used.
Ill-Fitting/Uncomfortable Equipment. At one time, this may have been a legitimate excuse, but it is no longer acceptable. There is a plethora of equipment providers and styles of equipment to suit every need. Each worker should be given the latitude to find the right harness for his or her body type and work style. One size does not fit all. If we want workers to wear protection, the equipment has to be comfortable and usable.
PPE Limits Ability to Work. As stated above, fall protection equipment must provide ease of movement for the wearer. If it does, there is no loss of productivity. Productivity can increase because workers can be confident they are adequately protected.
Workers Feel Less Safe When Using Controls. Wearing something for the first time takes some getting used to. The more a worker uses the equipment, the better they feel about it. This is about building a culture of health and safety. Once established, this will be no different than wearing a hard hat or safety glasses.
PPE Reduces Productivity. Management must take a leadership role to make certain that workers wear PPE and use fall protection systems. In a very competitive marketplace, this can be difficult to achieve. The elimination of “piece work” can be an effective starting point. Giving workers the time to complete fall protection plans, conduct pre-job hazard assessments, and inspect equipment for defects can go a long way to ensuring compliance. Senior managers should remember that production is negatively impacted whenever an inspection or investigation is required. Serious injuries and fatalities reduce efficiency; preventing them increases productivity, reduces costs and provides a sense of well-being among workers.
Solutions
Formal hazard assessments (task based) should be completed to determine the risks associated with the work performed. Control measures should be adopted based on the hierarchy of controls, legislative standards, industry requirements and manufacturer suggestions. All companies should establish fall protection policies and procedures for their particular work environments. Training requirements and regimens should be established. PPE ought to be purchased to suit particular worker types and preferences.
Once all of these are created, ensure supervisors and front line managers hold workers accountable for applying and abiding by the control measures set forth.
Ignore the Facts at Your Peril
Health and safety officers, when investigating workplace incidents, focus their attention on management team members, as it is they who oversee and guide the activities of workers; very, very seldom do workers injure themselves on purpose. Also, managers hold the purse strings of the organization. Current laws allow for administrative penalties that can reach into the millions of dollars, as well as possible incarceration for egregious offences.
With the availability of high quality engineering products, training materials and personal protective equipment, there is no excuse for suppliers and prime contractors not to have obedient safety programs that are assured to protect rank and file workers.