As the deadliest workplace, construction safety protocols must be enforced in the construction industry. Learn more about the protocols here.
In 2022 alone, there were approximately 512,000 construction workers in Singapore, consisting of 97,000 residents and 415,000 foreign workers. The number is expected to increase by the end of this year.
These construction workers are at risk of facing injuries, knowing that construction sites are deemed to be the deadliest workplace. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) released the data of 14 fatal injuries affecting construction workers in 2022, one more fatality than in 2021.
The number of fatalities, however, decreased from 3.3 fatal injuries per 100,000 workers in 2021 to 2,9 fatal injuries per 100,000 workers in 2022 – still a long way to reach the MOM’s target of decreasing fatalities to 1,1 per 100,000 workers.
Having said that, safety protocols in the construction industry should be strictly enforced. Only by implementing construction safety can we protect workers from injuries and make construction sites a safe workplace for everyone involved.
Through this guide, we’ll unveil construction safety protocols that are essential for mitigating risks and ensuring the well-being of construction workers.
What Is Construction Safety?
Construction safety is a set of regulations that are enforced in construction sites to ensure workers’ safety. Workers are at very high risk of experiencing injuries and even death due to the many hazards in construction sites, which safety protocols can prevent.
What Is The Importance Of Construction Safety?
Construction safety takes precedence over merely reducing fatal risks to construction workers. The implemented protocols enforce accountability among all stakeholders, benefiting worker well-being, regulatory compliance, and the company’s reputation.
Learn about the advantages of construction safety compliance in the following:
Protecting Construction Workers From Fatalities
Construction sites have the highest number of fatalities compared to other workplaces. In 2022 alone, 14 fatalities were happening in construction sites, and by the first quarter of 2023, there were 6 construction fatalities in Singapore.
Though the number of fatalities will possibly decrease by the end of the year, those who have passed away due to the hazards in construction sites are not a number. They are individuals who deserve proper protection while working.
Therefore, construction safety is important. Construction safety provides concrete measures that the construction stakeholders must adhere to ensure that everyone is safe from the safety risks.
Avoiding Penalties Due To Safety Negligence
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is very particular about ensuring workplace safety, including in construction sites. It sets out concrete safety measures through the Workplace and Safety Act (WSHA).
Individuals who violate the WSHA and cause harm to others on construction sites, whether they’re employers or employees, will face penalties. The penalties imposed range from a fine to imprisonment, with the amount or terms depending on the fatality scale caused.
Two penalties were imposed on construction stakeholders this year, according to Human Resources Director Asia. The first was a forklift operator who received an 18-week prison sentence for failing to follow safety protocols and causing the death of their coworker. Another case involved a crane operator who received a seven-month prison sentence for causing an accident that killed another construction worker.
Maintaining Company’s Good Reputation
A good reputation is key to defining a construction company’s trustworthiness. Clients are less likely to want to work with a company with poor safety records, as proven by the significant number of preventable fatalities.
A construction company with an excellent safety record with workers who have undergone construction safety training is preferable. Clients do this as a precaution against future consequences that could harm their businesses.
In many cases, poor safety protocols will also jeopardize construction quality. The accidents occurring in construction sites will damage the construction, delay the project delivery, and prevent workers from performing their tasks, which no client ever wants to deal with any of these.
13 Most Common Construction Health And Safety Risks
Countless hazards pose health and safety risks in construction sites. The hazards range from causing the least to the most fatal injuries. To name a few, we’ll list down the 13 most common construction work health and safety risks in the following:
- Slips And Trips
Slips and trips are among the most common reasons for casualties in construction sites. These accidents are often caused by the unexpected loss of traction or balance, frequently due to slippery surfaces, uneven terrain, or obstacles on the site.
- Falling
Workers descending from an elevated position and without using proper protection are in danger of falling. Falling from an elevated position in construction sites poses a heightened risk of injuries or fatalities.
- Electrocutions
Contact with direct electrical sources or faulty wiring poses the danger of electrocutions. Those who have experienced it might be mildly injured if the electrical shock is low. In worst cases, this situation might lead to severe injuries or fatalities due to extreme electrical shock.
- Working At Heights
Working at heights, such as on rooftops or scaffolding, is associated with dangerous risks. Without proper knowledge to perform work at height, construction workers are at risk of falling or experiencing other accidents that can be fatal.
- Moving Equipment
The movement of construction equipment, such as heavy machinery and vehicles, can endanger workers without proper safety risk mitigations. It could be because of a faulty operator who causes harm to others or due to inattentiveness when working around moving equipment.
- Manual Handling
Manual handling, or lifting, carrying, and moving heavy objects without ergonomic techniques or equipment, poses health risks known as musculoskeletal injuries. Once experiencing musculoskeletal injuries, the person may have a lowered ability to perform daily tasks.
- Airborne Materials
Exposure to hazardous airborne materials, such as dust, fumes, or chemicals, can lead to respiratory issues. The respiratory issues, however, often only occurred after years of prolonged exposure to the airborne materials.
- Excessive Noise
The sound of loud machinery, vehicles, and other noises from hammering, drilling, or digging pose health risks to construction workers. Exposure to continuous excessive noise can lead to hearing impairment or other health issues.
- Faulty Ladders
Defective or improperly maintained ladders pose a risk of falling to the descending or ascending workers. They may experience sprain, fracture, or worse, fatalities, depending on the affected areas from the falls.
- Collapses
Collapses due to structural failures, whether of buildings, scaffolding, or other constructions, pose dangerous risks for the workers. These issues often lead to serious injuries or, worse, fatalities.
- Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome
Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) arises from prolonged vibrating tools or equipment use. The affected person may experience numbness, tingling, or other vascular and nerve-related disorders within their hands and arms.
- Asbestos Inhalation
Asbestos is among the common materials found in construction sites. Its fibres, when inhaled, are dangerous for respiratory health. Asthma, pneumonia, and COPD are the health issues that frequently develop due to prolonged asbestos inhalation.
- Fire
Fire incidents are prevalent in construction sites. Electrical faults and flammable materials are the most common reasons for fire incidents. Fire can threaten life, property, and project safety without proper mitigation.
How To Ensure Safety In The Construction Industry?
Although countless hazards can cause injuries to construction workers, all of these can be reduced by implementing protocols that ensure work safety in the construction industry.
Let’s take a look at the safety protocols in the construction industry in the following:
11 Safety Protocols In The Construction Industry
- Provide Training
Construction is a mentally and physically demanding industry. Construction workers and supervisors must master the necessary skills and knowledge to ensure all project-related activities are carried out safely.
Mastering the necessary skills must be undergone through training. Construction safety training is generally divided into safety training for construction workers and safety training for construction supervisors.
- Enforce PPE Use
Personal protective equipment (PPE) protects construction workers from injuries caused by falling heavy objects, airborne materials, and other hazards on the site. That’s why it’s necessary to enforce workers using PPE.
The standard PPE used in the construction industry includes hard hats, eye protection, footwear, and hearing protection. Protective equipment, such as respirators, gloves, and waistcoats, are also commonly used to protect workers from potential risks.
- Perform Pre-checks On Equipment And Tools
Performing pre-checks on equipment and tools before commencing any construction activities is crucial. This includes inspecting machinery, power, and hand tools, ensuring they work properly.
Regular inspections of equipment and tools eventually pave the way for a safer working environment, with less incidents caused by malfunctions or faults.
- Maintain Site Tidiness
Maintaining site tidiness is integral to a safer working environment. The chance of slips, trips, and falls can be reduced by promptly clearing debris, waste, and unused materials.
Additionally, tidy sites also improve accessibility and visibility on construction sites. As a result, work procedures can run more smoothly, with a lower probability of accidents.
- Establish Clear Entry And Exit Points
Establishing clear entry and exit points helps to develop a controlled traffic flow. A controlled traffic flow is especially important during emergencies. Workers can evacuate swiftly during these times, reducing the potential for injuries and fatalities.
- Regular Site Safety Audits
Regular site safety audits are necessary to identify and address potential hazards in construction sites. The whole process is conducted by auditors to promote a safe working environment for everyone involved.
If the auditors find conditions on construction sites that pose a risk of causing accidents, they’ll file a report with the department in charge. Based on the results of the report, improvements will then be made either by replacing equipment or enforcing regulations.
- Provide Clear Signage Throughout The Site
Clear signage plays a key role in conveying important information to the construction workers. The signages in construction sites typically include site safety rules, hazardous areas, emergency exits, and more.
This allows construction workers to acknowledge safety measures they should take while working and facilitates them to swiftly evacuate in emergencies.
- Set Safety Guidelines For Environmental Conditions
Environmental challenges are often prevalent in construction sites. This underscores the need to set safety guidelines to help construction workers mitigate challenges like high winds, extreme temperatures, or slippery ground while working.
- Ensure First Aid Availability
First-aid availability is paramount to save lives when accidents happen in construction sites. Every construction industry must ensure well-stocked first aid kits and trained paramedics who can provide immediate medical assistance when needed.
- Provide Fire Extinguishers
Given the presence of flammable materials, electricity, and other potential fire hazards in construction sites, fire extinguishers should be readily available to prevent fires from spreading and causing further damage in case fire incidents occur.
However, simply providing fire extinguishers isn’t enough. Workers must also be trained to use extinguishers properly. The fire extinguishers should also be regularly inspected to ensure they’re in working order.
- Report Issues Immediately
A culture of prompt reporting of issues among construction workers should be encouraged as it facilitates efficient hazard management. Proactively identifying and reporting any safety issues, malfunctions, or potential hazards allows for swift corrective actions that prevent accidents before they occur.
Final Thoughts
Construction is the deadliest industry in Singapore. Many fatal incidents happened and cost the lives of construction workers. This further raises government concerns about taking proactive measures to reduce fatal injuries and create a safer working environment.
This explains the presence of construction safety protocols. With safety training as the primary requirement for construction workers and supervisors, they can gain the skills and knowledge needed to perform safe work and mitigate accidents on construction sites.
Only when all construction workers and supervisors understand what it takes to establish a safe working environment can fatalities be reduced, and achieving the Ministry of Manpower’s target of 1.1 fatalities per 100,000 workers becomes more feasible.
LearnCollab: Your Reliable Construction Safety Training Partner
Striving towards well-implemented construction safety protocols begins with thorough training. LearnCollab is here to proudly announce itself as a reliable partner that corporations and individuals can trust.
Our construction safety training, encompassing CSOC training, designed to teach construction workers about safe working measures, and BSCC training, tailored to guide supervisors in managing construction workers, will give the necessary knowledge to establish a safe working environment in the construction industry.
Most importantly, LearnCollab is a SkillsFuture registered training provider. Corporates and individuals can leverage the SSG Funding, which is eligible for Singapore citizens and permanent residents.
Have further questions in mind? Contact us today, and we’ll gladly help you out.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are construction safety must-haves?
Construction safety must-haves include all the PPE construction personnel should use on the site, encompassing hard hats, footwear, hearing protection, and more.
What is the number one safety rule in construction?
The number one safety rule in construction is PPE use. PPE helps to protect construction personnel from incidents, such as heavy object falls, airborne materials, and other hazards that can potentially cause injuries or fatalities.