A report from Milwaukee has revealed that only one third of construction workers feel completely safe while working on site.
The Building a Safer Future study – including a poll of 3,200 workers across Europe – found that working at height is seen as the biggest hazard. Another top priority identified in the research is better tools and equipment, with an increase in safety functions.
More than half (52%) of people polled reported at least one to five accidents over their careers, with 200 respondents claiming to have had more than 10. Alongside working at height, the other risks identified include objects falling from height, slips and trips, and faulty tools.
Almost half of the study’s respondents said they “self modify” their PPE or equipment because they didn’t feel it was up to the job, which could increase the risks posed.
Adrien Piriou, Director Hand Tools, Storage & PPE EMEA at Milwaukee, said: “As the report states, it’s an understandable undertaking given the lack of protection people feel on-site, but an unnecessary one, especially as premium, customisable options are now mainstream. PPE, tools, and equipment have been designed for a specific purpose and rigorously tested and certified. Once someone tampers with them, they compromise their capabilities.
“Nowhere is this more so than when it comes head protection, especially helmets where self-customisation effectively renders its defence redundant. Likewise, the trend for creating a ‘Swiss Army Tool’ pushes these devices beyond their original remit and capabilities, putting the user and colleagues’ physical wellbeing at higher risk from malfunction.”
When asked to rank what measures could be taken to protect workers on-site, the most popular response was “providing better tools and equipment, with more safety functions” (54%). This was closely followed by the “supply of better quality and more comfortable PPE” (48%) and “increasing training and guidance around the correct use of tools on site” (42%).
Adrien Piriou added: “Construction currently accounts for a fifth of Europe’s occupational fatalities, not to mention the massive number of injuries and near misses. In many cases, these accidents could have been avoided, and a key takeaway for readers should be that investing in premium tools, equipment and PPE can help reduce the probability of catastrophe.
“The workforce is a business’ most valuable commodity and choosing higher-quality, ergonomically designed and more rigorously-tested solutions will result in a safer workplace and better outcomes. As we look ahead to next year, we want to join forces across the European construction sector to affect a radical shift in procurement attitude, positioning quality over cost and build a lower-risk future for all.”
