The causes of construction accidents and what to do about them

The majority of construction accidents are not due to a lack of training, skill or knowledge — nearly all accidents are simply related to poor decision-making.

Whether an employee is talking on a cell phone while working or not wearing his/her personal protective equipment, many workers have placed themselves and others at needless risk to save time or be more comfortable.

But there are ways to combat this kind of decision-making by creating a safety culture on construction sites. Among the ingredients: accountability, demonstrated commitment by management, zero tolerance for unsafe practices and creating an atmosphere where workers are acting safely because they want to, not because they have to.