From the course: Construction Management: Safety and Health

Why is safety in construction so hard?

From the course: Construction Management: Safety and Health

Start my 1-month free trial Buy for my team

Why is safety in construction so hard?

“

- Construction is really hard. Now that's an interesting statement. If I say that to a bunch of seasoned construction managers, they'll probably look at me and say, yeah, no kidding. If it's a bunch of non-construction people, they might look at me and say, really, why? And if it's a room full of professionals who are new to the industry, they might look at me and say, wow, I'm glad you said that because I thought it was just me. It really is hard. And before I stray too far off topic, let's focus on why safety in construction is so difficult. Because I think when we begin to really understand the issues, we can actually start to develop solutions. First, there are some of the obvious issues. We work at heights. We work with tools and equipment that can be dangerous without proper training. We work around heavy equipment and in trenches. All of these are the sort of hazards that we tend to think about in construction, but there are also other factors that tend to amplify these hazards. Construction sites are workplaces that can change from day to day or even from hour to hour. Construction sites are also populated by many different trades, all employed by different companies, all working side by side to build the facility or structure. All of these different employers will have their own safety programs, their own training, and their own managers, all looking out for their own interests. Then to just complicate it a little more, the crews and personnel on the site can change frequently. Not only do the general contractors often hire different companies from project to project, even when they hire the same company you just got used to working with on the last project, there's a pretty good chance that the crew sent out this time will be different than the one you worked with, or alongside of, at that last project. Crews and personnel can also change throughout the project as it progresses, and crews move in and out according to the schedule and the flow of the job site. And then finally, I would be remiss if I didn't also mention the stressors that we face in the field. Stress that can come from working in extreme conditions, being understaffed, being concerned with proper training and knowledge, and always being under the gun to get it done now. When you throw all of these things together, you can start to see why it can be so difficult to manage safety and health on a construction project and why construction really is hard.

Contents