EVALUATINGTHERELATIONSHIOPBETWEENRISKASSESSMENTAND WORKPLACESACCIDENTSINTHECONSTRUTIONINDUSTRIES

Abstract

Accidents in workplaces have been a general concern in construction industries and approximately 3.3 million working days was lost due to injuries in construction industries in 2000/10 (HSE, 2010). This report focuses on the construction industries to evaluate the relationship between risk assessment and accident in workplaces. The main cause of injury in the construction industries is as a result of falls from elevated positions, body contact with moving machinery as well as trapped by and failing overturns, which occur as a result of human errors, ignorance and a deliberate act of violation has consistently led to different injuries in workplace. A cursory consideration of the statistics for workplaces injuries from HSE illustrates the gradual decline in the occurrence of these workplaces accidents more so with the introduction of Health and Safety Acts regulations and Construction Design and Maintenance Regulation. These regulations, which are enforced by law for every employer facilitate the provision of a safer working environment for the workers via the prompt identification of the risk and while simultaneously initiating preventive measures to eliminate the risk thus limiting the occurence of accidents. Risk assessment, as a technique used in identifying and reducing any potential risk arising in workplaces, must be reviewed continually as part of the management structure if its efficiency must be sustained. Furthermore, the enforcement of legislation via Health and Safety and fines for defaulting companies has also encouraged the development of proper risk assessment methods which are continually reviewed to neutralise possible mistakes.