Importance of Safety

and Health
 Session Objectives

At the end of the session, the participants

will be able to:
list the leading causes of accidents in construction
sites
recognize the present safety and health situations in
the construction industry
articulate the importance of safety and health in the
construction industry
 Global OSH Situationer

International Labour Organization Report

270 Million accidents reported
350,000 of which are fatal
160 Million work-related illnesses /
diseases reported
 Global OSH Situationer

 2,000,000 workers DIE every year

 More than 100,000 work fatalities occur every month
 more than 5,000 everyday
 4 every minute
 Each year, 22,000 children are killed by work accidents!
 Construction Industry

• At least 60,000 fatalities occur at

construction sites, around the world, every
year
• 1 fatal accident occurs every 10 minutes
• Around 17% of all fatalities at work (1 in
every 6) are construction fatalities
With a highly mobile population of
workers and different contractors working
on dangerous construction sites at the
same time, CONSTRUCTION continues
to be a major cause of death and
disabilities.
 Occupational Injuries:
2004, 2007, 2010, 2013 & 2015
Occ. Injuries
70,000
58,720
60,000
48,975 49,118
50,000 46,570
39,587
40,000
30,000 Occ. Injuries

20,000
10,000
0
2004 2007 2010 2013 2015

Source: 2004/2007/2010/ 2013/ 2015 OIS of the BITS

 Occupational Injuries: 2004

3% 8%
4%
5%

11%

69%
Manufacturing
Wholesale/Retail
Hotels/Restaurants
Transport/Communication
Construction
Others
Source: 2004 OIS of the BITS
 Occupational Injuries: 2007

9%
5%
5%
7%

8%
66%
Manufacturing
Wholesale/Retail
Hotels/Restaurants
Transport/Communication
Construction
Others
Source: 2007 OIS of the BITS
 Occupational Injuries: 2010

13%
8%
4%

7% 59%
9%
Manufacturing
Wholesale/Retail
Hotels/Restaurants
Transport/Communication
Construction
Others
Source: 2010 OIS of the BITS
 Occupational Injuries: 2013

8%
6%
5%
3%

5% 52%
6%
7%
8%
Manufacturing
Wholesale/Retail
Hotels/Restaurants
Agriculture
Administrative/ Support Services
Education
Transport/Communication
Construction
Others
Source: 2013 OIS of the BITS
 Occupational Injuries: 2015
8%
4%
3%
2%
5%
50%

6%

9%

13%
Manufacturing
Wholesale/Retail
Hotels/Restaurants
Agriculture
Administrative/ Support Services
Education
Transport/Communication
Construction
Others
Source: 2015 OIS of the BITS
 Growth of cases
with workdays lost
Industry 2007 2010 2013 2015

Manufacturing 12,4 9,845 10,344 10,126

27
Mining and 95 127 108 136
Quarrying
Construction 837 791 704 525

Source: 2007/2010/2013/2015 OIS of the BITS

 OSHC Study (1998)

Factors That Contribute

to the Occurrence of Accidents
in the Construction Industry
Leading Causes of Accidents
Severity of Injury
Type of Trade
Month of Occurrence
Time of Accident
 Why the need for OSH?

Family
Regulatory Agencies
Employee Health

SAFETY

Accident Costs
Production
Corporate
Image Quality
Principles of Occupational
Health and Safety

Occupational health and safety are a multi-

disciplinary field, covering issues related to
law, medicine, public health, technology,
economics and industry specific concerns.
All workers have rights.
There is a need for consultation with the social
partners (that is, employers and workers) and
other stakeholders.
Occupational health and safety policies must
be established.
Prevention and protection must be the aim of
occupational health and safety programs and
policies.
Information is vital for the development and
implementation of effective programs and
policies.
Health promotion is a central element of occupational
health practice
Occupational health services covering all workers
should be established

Compensation, rehabilitation and curative services

must be made available to workers who suffer
occupational injuries, accidents and work-related
diseases.

Education and training are vital components of safe,

healthy working environments.

Workers, employers and competent authorities have

certain responsibilities, duties and obligations.
Policies must be enforced.
SAFETY PHILOSOPHY @ WORK
“THE WORK AND PERSONAL HEALTH,
WELFARE AND WELL BEING OF EMPLOYEES
ARE EQUAL IN IMPORTANCE, THAT
EVERYONE MUST TAKE THE TIME AND
EXHAUST HIS BEST TO PERFORM HIS
WORK SAFELY. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY
OF EVERYONE ON SITE TO APPLY EVERY
POSSIBLE MEASURE, TO ENSURE THAT ALL
LEAVE THE JOB IN THE SAME CONDITION
THEY ARRIVED.”