The following are seven lethal workplace sins identified by Work Safe BC.
1. Asbestos/Silicosis/Mould Exposure Risks
Asbestosis, for example, is a scarring of the lungs, and mesothelioma, a tumor, result from exposure to asbestos many decades earlier and are two of the most frequent causes of fatalities in the construction industry. Asbestos is well-recognized as a health hazard and is highly regulated. Nearly 42 percent of the fatal claims accepted by Work Safe BC in 2007 were the result of exposure to asbestos and each year an average of 19 construction workers in BC die of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases representing $14.9 million in claims (click orange title to see videos).
2. Confined Space Risks
These risks involve exposing workers to situations or conditions that are immediately dangerous to life or to health. Confined spaces may contain hazardous atmospheres, including insufficient oxygen, toxic (poisonous) air, or an explosive atmosphere. Entry into confined spaces can be very dangerous. Unless proper training, equipment, and procedures are in place, workers must not be allowed to enter such spaces (click orange title to see videos).
3. Unsafe Excavation
This includes working in an excavation over four feet without adequately supporting or sloping the sides of the excavation or adopting other safeguards allowed by the regulation. An example is a worker who recently entered an improperly shored, improperly slopped, 14-foot excavation, which collapsed on his head, killing him instantly (click orange title to see videos).
4. Lack of Fall Protection
Falls are the most frequent and most costly across the construction sector. They represent one quarter of all claim volumes and 44 percent of all claim costs. According to Work Safe BC, lack of fall protection produces 20 times the serious injury rate and the highest number of penalties and orders issued of any other workplace situation (click orange title to see videos).
5. Roll Over Dangers
Roll over dangers occur when operating mobile equipment while failing to have rollover protective structures where required by regulation, and failing to install or use seatbelts as required (click orange title to see videos).
6. Lockout Violation
Lockout is the use of locks to prevent machinery or equipment from being started accidentally when maintenance work is being done. Every year, workers are seriously injured because machinery or equipment was not properly locked out. This could result in crushed limbs, severed fingers, or death (click orange title to see videos).
7. Unsafe Practices Near Power lines
This refers to working within specified minimum distances from unguarded overhead energized high voltage electrical conductors without complying with regulation (click orange title to see videos).
1. Asbestos/Silicosis/Mould Exposure Risks
Asbestosis, for example, is a scarring of the lungs, and mesothelioma, a tumor, result from exposure to asbestos many decades earlier and are two of the most frequent causes of fatalities in the construction industry. Asbestos is well-recognized as a health hazard and is highly regulated. Nearly 42 percent of the fatal claims accepted by Work Safe BC in 2007 were the result of exposure to asbestos and each year an average of 19 construction workers in BC die of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases representing $14.9 million in claims (click orange title to see videos).
2. Confined Space Risks
These risks involve exposing workers to situations or conditions that are immediately dangerous to life or to health. Confined spaces may contain hazardous atmospheres, including insufficient oxygen, toxic (poisonous) air, or an explosive atmosphere. Entry into confined spaces can be very dangerous. Unless proper training, equipment, and procedures are in place, workers must not be allowed to enter such spaces (click orange title to see videos).
3. Unsafe Excavation
This includes working in an excavation over four feet without adequately supporting or sloping the sides of the excavation or adopting other safeguards allowed by the regulation. An example is a worker who recently entered an improperly shored, improperly slopped, 14-foot excavation, which collapsed on his head, killing him instantly (click orange title to see videos).
4. Lack of Fall Protection
Falls are the most frequent and most costly across the construction sector. They represent one quarter of all claim volumes and 44 percent of all claim costs. According to Work Safe BC, lack of fall protection produces 20 times the serious injury rate and the highest number of penalties and orders issued of any other workplace situation (click orange title to see videos).
5. Roll Over Dangers
Roll over dangers occur when operating mobile equipment while failing to have rollover protective structures where required by regulation, and failing to install or use seatbelts as required (click orange title to see videos).
6. Lockout Violation
Lockout is the use of locks to prevent machinery or equipment from being started accidentally when maintenance work is being done. Every year, workers are seriously injured because machinery or equipment was not properly locked out. This could result in crushed limbs, severed fingers, or death (click orange title to see videos).
7. Unsafe Practices Near Power lines
This refers to working within specified minimum distances from unguarded overhead energized high voltage electrical conductors without complying with regulation (click orange title to see videos).
acknowledgements: Worksafe BC and Cathy Lange, of CSABC