Falls continue to be a leading cause of injury in the construction industry.
In fact, from 2017-2021, in the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction industry:
- 478 workers received medical aid or lost time from work as a result of a fall. Five workers lost their lives.
- The falls resulted in approximately $39.2M in claims costs.
- Falls resulted in 51,944 weeks of lost work for employees and lost productivity for employers.
In order to effectively address falls in the industry, we need a good understanding of where falls are occurring so that we can ensure that no fall hazard gets overlooked.
Some of the most common fall hazards include, (in order of occurrence):
- Slips, Trips and Falls (falls on same level)
- Falls from ladders
- Falls onto or against objects
- Falls from scaffolds, staging and platforms
- Falls down steps or stairs
- Falls/jumps from non-moving vehicles
- Falls from floor, dock or ground level
- Falls from roof
For the third year in a row, the NLCSA has partnered with WorkplaceNL and the Occupational Health and Safety Division of the Department of Digital Government and Service NL to promote Fall Prevention Awareness Week. Fall Prevention Awareness week will take place from April 17th – 21st, 2023 and our aim is to:
- Raise awareness about fall hazards and how they can be eliminated or mitigated; and
- Promote a positive workplace culture relating to fall prevention.
How can you participate?
Gather your crew together and have a chat about the fall hazards at your work site. You can listen to one of our podcasts on fall hazards, watch a webinar or virtual tool box talks, or conduct your own toolbox talks.
These talks can help identify fall hazards as well as gaps in knowledge or training. Encourage workers to ask questions, raise concerns and be actively involved in fall prevention at the workplace. For a full list of resources, visit our Fall Prevention Awareness Week Website.
