The Impacts of Safety in the Construction Industry

THE IMPACTS OF SAFETY IN THE CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRY
1

1. Introduction
The construction industry plays a crucial role in enhancing the economies of a country and
worker is considered an essential element of business. Safety policy needs to amend within
workplace that protect employees from unlikely to cause danger incidents or injury, risk of life
because this is very likely to injuries and other dangers incidents in these industries. This study is
going to explain about the safety in the construction industry both positive and negative. The
purpose of the study is to examine the impact of safety in the construction industry so that a
positive change can be amended to trigger potential risks and challenges. In order to explore
different aspects of the safety in the construction industry, different laws and regulations have
been examined to create a firm framework within an organization.
2. Aim
The aim of this research is to identify and evaluate the impacts of safety in the construction
industry and factors of the work health safety.
3. Objectives
 To examine the importance of safety in construction industry
 To determine different factors that influence safety and health of workers
 To recommend an effective strategy that create a firm framework within construction
industry
4. Background
Safety management is an essential knowledge in the construction industry. Safety in this
industry can be explained as the situation of employees’ protection from unexpected
incidents and injuries. According to study this industry is growing day by day and needs
more workers. Therefore, it can be stated that safety is most vital thing because according to
investigation every year lots of people get injured and lose their life. There will be briefly
explanation the factors of the impacts of safety in the construction industry with all positive
and negative things. According to data of 2015, 31% injuries happened from collapsing by
objects, 30% happened while caring or living things and 15% happened because of fall from
a height (Labour.gov.hk, 2019). In the last few years, the construction industries need to
2

realize about the safety awareness in sites. Even every year a huge amount of time and
workers are lost because of health issues and unexpected incidents. There are few
components responsible for these problems. But there is some safety knowledge and policies
can be prevented from these accidents and health issues through the adoption by the workers
and organization. Some of them are safety training, own protective equipment and safety
education.
The construction industry is a large and risk full industry. One of the major reasons behind
safety issues in construction industry is lack of training among employees that resist them to
implement new and innovative techniques. An effective training enforced employees to
commence the task in a proper way and legitimate way that eventually enhance productivity
and sustainability of an organization (Le et al. 2014). Occupational health and safety
Departments (OHS) has a leading role in protecting health and safety of workers by
compliance with legal laws and regulations that eventually reduce potential risks positively.
5. Safety in the construction industry
5.1 Importance of safety in the construction industry
The construction industry is most depends on employee. Therefore safety of the employee not
only increases the productivity as well as the stability of the organization. Every year there is lots
of employee gets injured because of lack of knowledge and lack of safety equipment. Also,
health issues of employee are the major problem in the industry (Jacinto, 2016). The construction
industry needs to educate and encourage its associate employee about the safety and health issues
that can be increase the production and save life of the employee with less time.
The entire construction industry needs to be involved in safety program. Safety is usually come
by the senior management but it is important that safety culture came from the management to
the workers as well (Akpinar et al. 2014). Every worker also needs to take a serious about the
safety managements. Some few cultures, educations and policies enhance the productivity and
decrease the graph of injuries and incidents in work sites.
The strength of the worker makes the construction industry large and that is the key or the area
which industry needs to be making strong by the investing safety equipment and policies on
3

construction sites because without these things employee could be injured or could be died. The
construction industry has a responsibility to take care of their workers (Alizadeh et al. 2014).
The large number of incidents can be the reason of fine by the department and projects can be
compromised. Though, the construction industry can save life, wealth and time by applying the
safety in sites.
5.2 Use of new technologies
New technologies for safety can make lots of change in the construction industry. Even everyday
a new technology came for the safety which can give a new face in the construction industry.
The industry needs to be updated with new technologies of safety. For example in older days
worker used to be claimed by the rope because lots of accidents happened but with the new
technology industry can lifts for this which can prevent the injuries during claim.
Computer is also can improve the safety on the site. With the new technologies computers can
complete many dangerous tasks with fewer risks. Now in every industry computers take a major
part in work. Even computers can do multiple of tasks in time like documentation can be done.
With the help of computers industry can look supervision in site and make it safer (Ballard et al.
2016). Computer helps for development of design, interferences, accuracy and the way of work.
The new technology of cell phones and camera will play an important role in safety and
productivity (Kelleher et al. 2015). It improves the communication between workers and the
management at the construction site and utilizes the time.
The adoptions of new technology produce more with less waste. The construction industry can
reduce the waste and recycled it with the new technology for different use. New technology can
reduce transport and save time.
Drone technology is also becoming a very familiar technology in the construction industries now
days. Drones technology will serve many different uses like accuracy and lacks of the projects.
3D printing is also taking a place in the construction industry which helps to reduce the waste of
row materials and prevents the unexpected incidents with the help of perfect angels.
The construction industry can update the new technology in safety gadgets. Safety gadgets need
to be replaced the outdated gadgets to updated gadgets. Management needs to improve these
4