COSHH Management in the Construction Industry
Employing an estimated 2.1 million workers in Great Britain (ONS), 6% of the total British workforce according to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistics, the construction industry is big business.
However, it’s also a risky business. HSE reports that 13,000 deaths per year are linked to past exposure at work, such as to chemicals or dust.
Unfortunately, exposure to hazardous substances and chemicals is part of many construction workers’ everyday reality. This means the construction sector faces a range of safety risks statistically higher than that for workers across all industries.
Consider the prevalence of hazardous substances within the construction industry. Many workers are exposed to dusts, isocyanates and potentially harmful mixtures (like paints) daily, all of which emit noxious fumes, dusts, vapours and gases. These dangerous exposure levels are simply deemed to be part of the job—but that doesn’t mean they’re right.
In fact, construction workers are statistically more likely than other professionals to develop work-related cancer, musculoskeletal disorders, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and non-fatal injuries.
Construction firms must take proactive action today to prevent their employees from work-related health risks, whether short-term dermatitis or cancers that develop later in life. It’s time to act.