Managing Health Risks in the Construction Industry

Occupational health is often overlooked in the construction industry as it concentrates on accident prevention. Dupe Domeih, who has recently joined us from the construction industry explains why it is just as important to control and manage occupational risk.

The UK construction industry employs more than 2 million people either directly or through subcontracting, making it the country’s biggest industry. The nature of the activities makes it one of the most dangerous workplaces with over 2,800 people killed in the last 25 years from work related accidents and injuries sustained in the workplace.

The construction industry has a high incidence of occupational ill health which can have a devastating effect on individuals, their families and their employers who may face fines and prosecution.  Although there have been significant improvements in the industry’s health and safety performance according to Health and Safety Executive statistics, efforts have usually focused more on safety hazards rather than on workplace hazards resulting in ill health issues.

The benefits of managing occupational health

The benefits of having a robust system for controlling and managing occupational health risks in construction organisations include;

• Reduced absenteeism
• Reduced staff turnover
• Retention of key staff
• Lower healthcare costs
• Reduced insurance premiums and compensation claims
• Fewer work related ill health cases
• Improved productivity and staff morale 

Typical occupational health issues in the construction industry

Occupational health issues are not always and immediately visible but can have the same devastating impact as accidents and injuries, sometimes causing prolonged and long term health problems.  Some of the health problems associated with work in the construction and building industry include;

• Musculoskeletal disorders including back pain usually from manual handling
• Noise- induced hearing loss
• Respiratory and breathing problems including asthma from exposure to asbestos, dust, silica and other hazardous substances
• Skin diseases including dermatitis from exposure to chemicals, paint, cement, bitumen, asphalt and other hazardous chemicals used in the industry
• Hand arm vibration syndrome resulting from frequent operation of hand held power tools
• Occupational stress due factors such as work pressures, work load, the risky nature of the job, job insecurity

Managing occupational health goes beyond undertaking pre- start health checks, providing first aid and site welfare facilities. It involves organisations and employers having effective system of managing occupational health risks as well as compliance with health and safety legislation.

How to manage occupational health risks in your construction company

The responsibility for managing occupational health risks is placed on the employer under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.  To meet these legal requirements as well as improving the organisation’s health and safety performance and ultimately reduce business risks and costs, employers need to have certain arrangements in place.  These include:

• Health and safety policies and procedures with practical arrangements for managing occupational health risks
• Provision of employee awareness training on manual handling, control of substances hazardous to health, noise at work and hand arm vibration
• Manual handling risk assessments and safe handling techniques for manual handling activities
• Health surveillance, sickness absence management, return to work policy and stress management strategy
• Arrangements for managing subcontractors, including procedures for managing their occupational health risks
• Employers understanding their duties under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 (CDM 2007)

System Concepts can help you improve your organisation’s health and safety planning, policies and procedures and to minimise risks to your business whether as a construction/ building contractor or as an organisation that utilise the services of construction or building contractors. We can provide you with services including;

• Writing or reviewing your health and safety policies and procedures
• Provision of health and safety training courses customised to your business requirements;
  • IOSH Managing Safely
  • Understanding Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 (CDM 2007)
  • Manual Handling and risk assessments 
  • Asbestos 
  • Work at Height
  • Legionnella
• Provision of a competent person to manage your onsite health and safety requirements
• Procedures for selection and control of contractors working on your building projects
   
  For more information and advice, please contact us.