ABSTRACT
The construction industry has a dismal track record with respect to the safety and health of its workers. Each year hundreds of accidents on construction sites either maim or kill many workers. Uncontrolled exposure to occupational health hazards curtails the working life of construction workers by several years as a result of occupational diseases. Workers in many trades die 8 to 12 years earlier, on average, than do many white-collar workers (Center to Protect Workers’ Rights, 1993). Construction workers are two to three times more likely to die on the job than workers in other industries while the risk of serious injury is almost three times higher (Site Safe, 2000). The industry has not been unresponsive to this state of affairs, recognising that consistent excellence in worker safety requires a concerted effort on the part of everyone engaged in construction related activities. However, very few companies achieve consistently high levels of compliance with safety procedures.
