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Do 'Safe' Construction Sites Exist? A Reflection on the Risks of Heavy Lifting

Do 'Safe' Construction Sites Exist? A Reflection on the Risks of Heavy Lifting



construction hammer

Last week, a headline published in the Northen Echo captured our attention, as it was announced that a construction firm had been ordered to pay £45,000, as a result of an on-site injury. Initially, this struck us as the same neglectful safety story that we've grown used to reading about, whereby a firm or supervisor is found to have been using unsafe working practices, or unsuitable equipment, and is punished accordingly. This story, however, was distinctly different from previous cases that we have examined, as it lacked the obvious signs of neglect often present in cases such as these. As a result, this got us thinking about the way in which we discuss health and safety in construction, and how, at times, we may be guilty of forgetting the grey areas that surround workplace safety measures.

In the case mentioned, project manager Paul Powton was injured whilst working on a spa expansion for Walter Thompson Ltd, a family-run firm of contractors. Whilst laying two concrete slabs, Mr Powton was injured as the crow bar he was using to lever the slabs into place flew up and hit him in the face, after the top slab fell from the chain block being used to lift it. On inspection, it was found that this incident occurred due to poor planning, time pressure, and a lack of proper risk assessment procedures, with blame falling primarily on the firm, but also on Mr Powton himself. 

Just two week prior to the incident, the site had passed its monthly health and safety audit, and during proceedings the company was praised for their 'exemplary' health and safety record. In addition, this was also the company's first prosecution in almost a 100 years of working in the industry. This illustrates the true scale of health and safety risks in the construction industry, by showing that heavy lifting incidents can easily occur, even in the most safety-conscious workplaces. Health and safety cannot be maintained on a monthly or even weekly basis, but must be properly assessed and executed as part of daily working practices. 

In order to avoid these incidents, companies and employees should:

  • Plan ahead with plenty of time, to properly asses each element of the job at hand.
  • Use the correct lifting and handling equipment, which has been safety checked and approved.
  • Double check the equipment, and run through safety measures before going ahead with the work.
  • Clearly communicate health and safety procedures throughout the work force, for a unified approach to safety.
  • If incidents do occur, the situation should be properly scrutinised in order to ensure that a repeat in never allowed to occur.
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