Women make up only 3 per cent of Australia’s construction workforce, with the misogynistic culture driving people away from the industry, according to a March 2018 report by Construction Skills Queensland. And most women who are in the industry are working outside of the core construction trades of electrical, carpentry and plumbing where they comprise […]
Three quarters of common construction tradespeople have never received any training on working with, handling or disposing of asbestos, while 45 per cent have trouble identifying asbestos. The results come from a survey of 240 West Australian carpenters, painters, plumbers and electricians led by a Curtin University’s Behavioural Research Group director, Geoffrey Jalleh. The results […]
The June 2016 discovery of asbestos in 150 roof panels in Perth’s new children’s hospital, despite their being certified, is the latest in a string of safety issues with imported construction products. The discovery followed a February 2016 announcement that products containing asbestos had been found in concrete fibre sheeting at 64 other Australian building […]
Working with cold hands will reduce performance and may increase the likelihood of accidents as a result of decreased dexterity, according to a Dutch research paper titled The hand in the cold: performance and risk. Cold weather also increases the risk of working in winter with dangers such as frostbite and reduced sensation in the […]
Almost all construction industry workers are regularly exposed to potentially cancer-causing carcinogens, according to the Australian Work Exposures Study: Construction Industry Report published in May 2016. Using research based on a sample of 459 workers, the report estimated that 96% had a probable exposure to at least one carcinogen while 53% had a probable exposure to […]
Managers have a significant influence over construction workers’ diets, however are hesitant to try and influence healthy eating despite it improving safety, according to a Griffith University research paper. The study, which looks to be published in the Journal of Construction, Management and Economics, surveyed 250 construction workers and interviewed 80 managers and workers. The […]
Wet weather poses numerous risks for construction workers, so it is critical these are recognised and managed by both workers and employees on site. Senior Safety Advisor at HIA Safety Services, Rick Little identifies the most common wet weather dangers as “slips, trips and falls” and says these dangers are particularly prevalent when working in […]
Being a carpenter is one of the most dangerous building and construction trades due to varying work environments and exposure to many other trades and disciplines that carpenters are required to coordinate from a Work Health and Safety perspective. Executive Officer – Safety, of Master Builders NSW, David Solomon informed Pro Choice Safety Gear that […]
