PERSPECTIVE
WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS
By Rae Steinbach
Construction work is characteristically dangerous . According to the International Labour Organisation ( ILO ), of the 2.3-million workers who die each year in occupational accidents or from work-related disease , around one in six works in the construction sector . www . work4youlaw . com
An astounding 1 406 claims were made for falls from height in South Africa in 2007 .
There is an immediate loss of productivity that a business must sustain when a worker is injured . A business must also take on indirect costs such as training replacement workers , additional administrative work , and in some cases , harsh fines , legal fees , and compensation to the worker and / or their family . These costs make the avoidance of health and safety issues for construction businesses a central component for success .
Construction site injuries
One of the most dangerous aspects of construction work relates to the heavy machinery used . This is responsible for injuring thousands of construction workers around the globe each year . Vehicle collisions also feature high on the list of common worker injuries on construction sites . This is a major concern , not only for the USA , but also the UK and South Africa . Considering that reporting on injury types and frequencies differs between nations , it is difficult to compile a definitive list of common construction site injuries for all countries . A workers ’ compensation attorney in Philadelphia states that in the US , “ Most injuries or illnesses that happen at work and that have been caused by an accident or condition at the workplace , are going to be covered under workers ’ compensation law .” But , below are some of the widely recognised high-frequency injuries , and their causes , for construction workers across the world .
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AUGUST 2018