With construction worksite injuries and deaths on the rise, WorkSafe BC is launching a campaign in partnership with five Lower Mainland construction companies to bring awareness to the issue and provide training resources.
For the last decade falls from heights in the construction industry has resulted in almost 100 deaths and more than 22,000 serious injuries, according to WorkSafe BC.
Carpenters, roofers and labourers have the highest chance of falling at residential construction worksites, with falls from ladders and roof or scaffolding being the most common.
Causes for the number of falls from heights in the construction industry, according to WorkSafe BC research, is time and economic constraints, lack of training and the need for better leadership in the area of safety. Also to blame are peer pressure and “entrenched work habits.”
The new campaign is looking to address these findings and includes new training resources, a social media contest, hard hat stickers, perimeter fencing and innovative, oversize signage reminding employers and workers with the slogan “Focusing on safety won’t make your crew look down on you, falling will. Speak up for safety.”
The five construction companies, which include Beedie Development Group, ITC Construction Group, Polygon Homes Ltd., PCL Construction and Scott Construction Group, partnering with WorkSafe BC represent 22 jobsites.
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