Reducing the risk of serious injury in the construction industry
I
n British Columbia, about 160,000 workers earn their living in the construction industry, with sectors including general construction, heavy construction and road construction and maintenance. There are approximately 42,000 employers, with 90 per cent being small businesses. The industry has a serious injury rate three times higher than other industries in the province and last year, 7,723 workers were injured in the construction industry. Over 1,200 of those workers were injured in a fall from an elevation, many suffering serious, lifealtering injuries.
While much has been accomplished and much has improved in health and safety in construction work sites around the province, these numbers show us that there is still much more that needs to be done. WorkSafeBC’s Construction High Risk Strategy We work with employers and workers every day throughout the province to reduce workplace injuries and eliminate traumatic deaths caused by occupational diseases. In the construction industry, we are helping to reduce the serious injury rate through
the Construction High Risk Strategy — the implementation of risk-reduction tactics directed toward supervision and high-risk work activities that combine awareness, training, inspection, and enforcement. The Construction High Risk Strategy identifies sectors and subsectors with a high risk of serious workplace injury and significant contribution to the serious injury rate. Areas of focus for 2019 Our three areas of focus for 2019 are: • Asbestos — residential and commercial:
TYCON STEEL INC
(1998)
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