Members of the labor force who apply their trade in the public and private construction industry know all too well of the risks and dangers they face on a daily basis. A majority of these accidents occur due to a lack of proper training of laborers which results in human error, malfunctioning equipment and machinery, and poor working conditions in general.
Some Alarming Statistics
- 1-in-10 construction workers are injured on construction sites every year.
- Nearly 20% of all workplace deaths from 2002-2012 were accredited to the construction industry.
- Out of all these deaths, 10% occurred as a result of workers being hit by objects while 2% of these were caused due to workers getting stuck between 2 or more objects on-site.
- In the United States alone, the construction industry holds the 2nd rank for the most number of fatal injuries suffered by workers under the age of 18 years.
- In 2012, Texas topped the charts for the most number of construction-related deaths by state (105).
To drastically improve these hair-raising figures and minimize the number of on-site accidents and deaths, let’s look at some of the basic dimensions of worker safety and how it can be improved.
Proper Training and Compliance with Industry Standards
Contrary to popular opinion, the construction industry is not one which only hires unskilled labor in an attempt to save costs in the form of labor wages. For maintaining quality standards and making sure they comply with the guidelines provided by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), construction companies should properly train all their workers for them to carry out their job in the best way possible.
Specialized training courses should be offered in which workers are briefed on how to operate machinery and tools as well as the contingency plans in place to deal with a number of situations. This will increase the capabilities of workers, making them act more responsibly and make fewer errors.
Proper Monitoring and Reporting
The main role of the supervisors present on construction sites is to make sure all tasks are on track for timely completion as well as making sure that all machinery is working as expected. However, another role, one which is often not stated but is a given in their profession, is to see an accident happening before it actually occurs and preventing it from becoming a reality. On top of that, workers should also assume the responsibility of pinpointing areas where their safety might be comprised so that the right steps can be taken to rectify them.
For this purpose, the HoistCam™ Director Remote Enterprise Software can be your go-to solution for all your monitoring and reporting needs. The software can be integrated with all HoistCam™ camera systems to provide remote monitoring of construction sites, identify any discrepancy in real-time and view videos from the central archive to determine the reason behind any accident if and when it occurs.
Using the Latest Safety Gear and Equipment
The rapid advancement of technology has paved the way for the creation of better machinery and equipment as well as clothing and gear for the labor force, minimizing the risk of accidents occurring and thus, reducing the number of injuries and deaths in every type of workplace.
HoistCamTM is one brand that has done so. Their range of wireless cameras which can be fixed onto crane blocks through the in-built magnets they come with are one such equipment. Their polycarbonate body makes them impact-resistant and highly durable, allowing them to be used in a variety of situations. They are fixed with a weather-proof camera which comes with night vision to make crane operation a breeze during the day as well as late into the night.