Construction workers 'dicing with death' taking safety shortcuts

Around a fifth say they haven’t received any training on how to work at height safely while one in seven believe their bosses or those contracting them would want them to ignore safety issues to ensure they can complete a task.

The findings have been published by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) as it calls for more awareness of the dangers of working at height and how to prevent harm.

Last year, 35 people died after falling from height at work in the UK, while many more are likely to have sustained serious injuries, with some of them serious and life-changing.

It’s statistics such as these which led IOSH, the global membership body for health and safety professionals, to launch its campaign Don’t fall silent. Kelly Nicoll, IOSH President, said: “Each of these deaths is a tragedy that could be avoided. The same goes for those who have been injured. And it’s not just about those who have fallen; we need to consider the family and friends who are left to cope with what’s happened and the colleagues, some of whom may be traumatised from seeing the incident themselves.

“I’ve had to deal with two serious falls from height through my work and they both still live with me today. That’s why we want to raise awareness of this issue, to stop people taking shortcuts with safety and to prevent harm from happening.

“Our survey results show that these shortcuts are still happening, in some cases because the workers themselves feel pressured to do so. These people are dicing with death. We want businesses to ensure they have the processes in place for safe work at height and those doing the work to follow these to protect themselves and others.”

While falls from height can be fatal, IOSH is highlighting how injuries sustained can seriously affect people’s lives, with physical injury often leading to mental health issues and financial problems.

To try to combat the issue, it has created a toolkit of resources for employers to use to ensure good safety practices when people work at height.

Abbi Taylor’s dad Jason was left paralysed from the waist down when he fell off a ladder on a construction site in 1993. She said the incident has had a huge impact on her life as well as her dad’s.

She said: “I was only three when my dad fell from a ladder at work. He took a shortcut, thinking it would never happen to him. But it did, and the accident left him paralysed from the waist down. For me, there has never been a time when my dad wasn’t in a wheelchair.

“What people don’t always realise is how long the ripple effect of an accident lasts. Dad missed out on everyday moments – teaching us to ride bikes, kicking a ball around, even just being there mentally for us growing up. His struggles with mental health also had a huge impact on our family, and at times it was incredibly difficult to live with.

“Now, 32 years later, we are still dealing with the fallout. Even my daughters are affected – they can’t understand why their grandad can’t stand up and give them a hug. These moments hurt the most, because the truth is, the impact never ends. That’s why safety matters. One shortcut. One bad decision. One accident. And your family will live with the consequences forever.”