Bad for business...
In 2003, a number of high-profile accidents shocked the public.
Suddenly construction meant gas explosions, scaffold collapses, and demolition disasters.
Even worse, the death toll in the industry was the highest in more than a decade.
These factors affect the future of construction -- everything from compensation premiums to employment.
The bad image may be exaggerated, but it influences legislators, insurance companies, buyers of construction, prospective workers, and government agencies.
The industry’s damaged reputation
• hurts an Ontario contractor’s ability to attract investment and bid on jobs outside the province
• makes it harder to recruit new employees
• leads the public to question the safety and reliability of all contractors
• makes parents uneasy about their teenager’s decision to apprentice in a construction trade.
At CSAO we have some ideas about what is wrong -- lack of firm supervision on site, lack of accident prevention training, an underground economy that grows bigger every day and operates outside the traditional industry.
Whatever the reason, we need to bring the situation under control.
We believe that a few basic steps
can lead to major improvements.
Eliminate more than half of all accidental
deaths by ensuring that fall protection is used. When you see unsafe work on your own Ensure adequate supervision on site. Get health and safety training |
We look forward to your ideas and support in 2004.
