A total of 86% of construction industry professionals said they witnessed an accident on site that could have been prevented in the past year.
These were the findings in a survey of 500 construction industry professionals commissioned by SafeSite Facilities, which delivers site safety products to construction companies nationwide.
This figure climbed to 95% for site safety officers, while 37% reported they had suffered an injury on site personally in the past year, although this figure was lower for more experienced workers.
In addition, 34% reported a member of the public had been injured on site, while 42% said a colleague had suffered an injury on site in the last year.
Just 14% said no one had been injured on a construction site they had worked on.
Jack Lowdell, manager at SafeSite Facilities, said: “The findings show that preventable incidents remain a real issue across sites in the UK.
“Simple, well-planned safety and security measures can make a significant difference in reducing risk and protecting both workers and the public.
“This research underlines the importance of taking a proactive, considered approach to site safety rather than reacting after an incident has occurred.”
Dr Lowellyne James, HSEQ manager at SafeSite Facilities, added: “It’s deeply troubling that in the 21st century, we’re still talking about injuries on construction sites that could have been easily prevented.
“British industry has long led the way in safety innovation, from the tailored origins of the high-vis vest to the evolution of protective headgear, but we’re still seeing professionals suffer avoidable harm, like debilitating hand injuries that could be prevented with task-appropriate gloves.
“Safety should never begin and end with PPE. It must be built into the very fabric of operations, starting with robust systems of work and up-to-date risk assessments.
“When these controls break down, the likelihood of incidents rises sharply and the consequences ripple across the entire business, affecting productivity, morale and quality.”
