All construction projects start with skilled workers, clear direction and industry-appropriate equipment, but they’re continued and finished by constantly keeping safety in mind. We’ve seen safety, or lack thereof, play a huge part in the success, or failure, of construction projects. Without safety and proper safety training, there is no construction industry.
Just take a look at the attempted construction of the Panama Canal in the 1880s. It was so unsafe, with about 400 out of every 1000 workers dying on site, that they had to abandon construction until 1904, when safety protocol was dramatically improved.
Nowadays, construction projects are safe, due to the extensive safety training that takes place before commencing. Here, the experts at Construction Training International explain why safety training is so important for every type of construction project.
Personal safety
First and foremost, it’s important because it helps to uphold the standard of personal safety – that is, the safety of you, the worker, and the other workers on the construction site. In 2019, due to increased safety training for construction projects, Australia reached its lowest rate of fatal injuries on the construction site, at 1.4 deaths per 100,000 workers. This figure is incredibly low when compared to fatalities on the construction site 100 years ago, when about 6 per 1000 workers died constructing the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Increased productivity
The reality is that most injuries on the construction site are very minor. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t aim to reduce them. One huge reason why safety training is important to construction projects (which is of course secondary to personal safety) is due to increased productivity. When workers sustain minor injuries, it still puts them out of work for a short period of time, and chews up time filling out safety reports rather than working onsite.
Avoid fines and penalties
Safety training for construction projects, as discussed, is also important from a business point of view, on top of a human point of view. Fines, due to lack of proper safety training, are a major setback experienced by construction businesses. In 2021, an Australian construction company was fined $320,000 for a serious breach of safety training policy. Individual employees aren’t exempt from copping fines and penalties for safety breaches, either. Keeping up-to-date with safety training is the best way to avoid serious injuries, as well as serious fines.
Want to learn how to be the safest and most skilful worker you can be? Enrol at Construction Training International. They’re Victoria’s favourite team in construction training, helping you get qualified and get out into the construction workforce sooner. With real-life training facilities, the most dedicated, experienced staff, and affordable rates, CTI give you the training and confidence you need to begin your career path in construction.
