Why is safety management so important in the construction space?
In 2017 a total of 190 fatalities were recorded in workplaces throughout Australia. With 30 of these deaths occurring on construction sites throughout Australia, I take a look at why this safety is such an important player when working in construction.
Accidents are a part of life and are bound to happen at places such as the job site, especially when there is no real safety management system applied. There was never a building that was constructed without any incidents and or mishaps. This is why you need a Safety Management System (SMS) and why it is necessary for every construction project.
Every construction company is legally obligated to comply with the Workplace Health and Safety Act and Regulations that govern your particular state or territory in which you operate. Protection of your workers and sub-contractor should always be the topmost priority. To take complete care for such purpose, safety consultants or people are engaged, these people or tools as I call them can be very helpful, however they need to grasp legislation.
All high-risk construction work on any site requires a safe work method statement (SWMS), without one you could be liable to penalties and imprisonment I have identified some of the core reasons why safety management at the construction site is vital:
Practical Perspective
If the situation is considered from a practical perspective, it is obvious that the amount of time, money, effort and power spent on the restoration after the accident is not very ideal. It is a better option to stay careful to avoid such accidents in the first place. Care is better than cure, after all. Just in case the accident occurs, a safety management team would be able to handle the situation much professionally.
Governmental Laws
Another reason why a safety management in construction work in Australia and other countries of the world is very necessary is because of the laws, rules, and regulations the government has set for the companies to follow in order to provide a safe working environment for the workers and employees. Then it legally becomes a responsibility for the construction companies to ensure safety for everyone at all costs.
Sense of Responsibility
This is the basic reason why safety management must be a part of the construction plan as it is unethical to risk the lives of others just for the sake of construction work. A safety management team ensures that the construction work continues without any accidents. Construction companies should make the life safety of people associated with the construction plan a priority instead of work.