A code of practice consultation document and a checklist on safety on construction sites were published last week by the Occupational Health and Safety Authority.

Constituted bodies and other interested organisations now have until 26 May to give their feedback before the authority will eventually publish a final code.

Last year, there were 652 accidents reported on construction sites, making up 16.5 per cent of the total occupational accidents. It means that on average two such accidents were reported every day, and although the great majority of them were minor accidents, others were more serious, so much so that during 2005, 50 per cent of occupational fatalities in Malta occurred on construction sites. There might have been other minor accidents that took place, but which were not reported.

Such accidents are also costly in economic terms, as work days and man hours are lost following injuries. But this should be the least of our worries because the health and safety of construction workers – and all other workers, for all that matters – should come first and foremost.

It is with this in mind that the OHSA has come up with the idea of launching a code of practice and drawing up a checklist for construction sites. In this way, it wants to encourage contractors and their employees to follow established guidelines so as to limit the risk of accidents and possible injuries.

Of course, accidents will unfortunately still happen but if one were to exercise more caution there is a chance that some of them could be avoided. Basic instructions such as wearing of hard-hats and harnesses should be followed by one and all.

The important thing is that once the code of practice is finalised, it should not remain as another document on the shelf. The OHSA has the duty to not only publish such a document, but also to explain its details in full to all the parties concerned, push for its implementation and take the necessary steps if guidelines laid down are not

followed.

On the other hand, the building contractors and their employees have the duty to read the document right till the last full-stop and make sure that the guidelines listed are followed to the letter, every day. After all, it is in their own interest that such a document is being prepared and they should be the first to adhere to it.

The aim of the code of practice is to serve as a practical guide on the technical, administrative and legal framework in the field of health and safety on construction sites. It is therefore a wide-ranging document that covers all aspects of the construction sector.

In view of the fact that the document could contain legal and technical terms which might not be easily understood, the OHSA should make sure that the wording in the document is explained in layman’s terms and, if this is not possible, then the authority should consider holding meetings for the contractors and employees to help them understand the guidelines.

The OHSA has also published a guidance checklist that builders, clients, contractors and architects will find useful in implementing health and safety measures on construction sites. The checklist explains the hazards that can be found on construction sites and allows users to check what measures have already been taken and what needs to be done to improve health and safety.

Again, this is a commendable exercise that should help cut down on the number of accidents. But it depends on how much it is used.