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