Construction Safety: Protecting Lives in a Dangerous Industry - Essay Sample

Introduction

The construction industry is a very important sector in any society because it is through the work done by the industry that humankind is able to get decent shelter. However, the construction industry is also a dangerous place to work on because workers have to live and work alongside many machines and equipment, most of them very dangerous.

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Safety plays an important role in this industry because it is through strict adherence to high safety standards that injuries and fatalities are reduced among the workers. In return, safety is able to lead to low costs of running companies in the construction industry as well as keep families together and happy. The construction industry is prone to various hazards and it is no wonder that about 3% of workers sustain a work-related injury while about 4% suffer from an illness related to their job (Hornsby 1). Without adherence to high standards of safety, there would be very few people willing to work in this important industry due to fear or injuries and death.

Benefits of Safety to Companies

One of the benefits of safety to a company is that it stands to enjoy better productivity from the workers. When employees have the right knowledge and training about tools, it can boost morale on the construction site which in turn increases productivity. In the long run, the company builds a good reputation among the potential employees which helps in both retaining employees as well as attracting the best workers.

Moreover, a company is able to avoid losing money by observing high standards of safety. With the correct health and safety procedures, a company is able to avoid fines, bans and costly cases that come about due to the breaking of the law. Any investigations and court cases cost money directly or indirectly and by avoiding such distractions, the company is able to save money.

In addition, with few or no illnesses and injuries, the company enjoys having the whole taskforce working which translates to higher profits for the company. For example, a company operating at full capacity is likely to complete its tasks earlier than one that has a number of its employees missing.

Benefits of Safety to Employees

Employees who work for companies that adhere to high standards of safety enjoy the benefit of not being injured. It has to be understood that some of the injuries can be fatal. A large portion of accidents is caused by falls, trips, and slips. Working in a company that has a high safety record ensures that the employees get to go home every day of the week without any injuries or illness.

Another benefit for employees is that they are able to keep their jobs. Companies in the construction industry are an important and significant source of jobs in many societies. When a company is riddled with construction accidents due to lapses in safety, it can be closed, thereby leading to losses of jobs. The interest of the employees is to keep their job and advance their careers in the company or the industry and this can only happen if they are able to keep their jobs. On a larger scale, when the companies are thriving, people, families, and societies are able to enjoy better standards of living.

Work Cited

Hornsby, Matt. Five Reasons Why Safety Matters On a Construction Site. 31 Oct 2012. http://www.blog4safety.com/2012/10/five-reasons-why-safety-matters-on-a-construction-site-guest-post/. 30 May 2019.