Reducing workplace accidents: advice for employers

4. Construction - an accident black spot

• Working at height — falls from heights are the most common cause of injuries and death. Causes include: working on a scaffold or platform without guard rails, or without a safety harness correctly attached; fragile roofs; and ladders that are badly maintained, positioned and secured. The whole construction process should be planned, starting with the design stage, to minimise the risk of falls.
• Working in excavations — before starting any excavation work consider all potential hazards including trench collapse, people and vehicles falling into excavations, and nearby structures being undermined. Then put appropriate precautions in place. Locate and mark all underground services, and take precautions to avoid them; ensure supplies of suitable material for supporting an excavation are on site; ensure there is a safe method for putting in and removing supporting material.
• Moving loads — plan to minimise the movement of materials and for safe materials handling. Ensure equipment is set up and operated by trained and experienced workers and that a competent person inspects it regularly.
• General ‘housekeeping’ and safe access  — ensure there is safe access (roads, walkways, ladders or scaffolds) to and from all places of work; materials are stored safely; holes are fenced or covered and clearly marked; there are proper arrangements for collecting and disposing of waste materials; and there is adequate lighting.