Construction boom comes with deadly consequences

By Martin Davis

WA's house-driven construction boom comes with a warning, with new research showing the number workplace injuries jumps dramatically when an economy improves.

ECU PhD candidate and lead researcher Tanya Jenke has said that that her findings highlight, a concerning trend that is happening with economic growth.

“While WA's economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. The safety of our workers could be at risk research has shown workplace injuries in WA increased during times of economic growth,”

With the current building boom in WA, because of the high demand for First Home Owner’s grants which has rose by over 260 per cent.

In the year 2020, more homes are being built, so more people must be hired, they feel like that they do not need to prioritize.

“What the research is showing us is that a boom has the potential to increase the number of injuries… we're moving into a faster pace, Higher demand, economic time is that we feel need to prioritize safety over profitability.”’

Safety Leadership Expert and Director of the Guinea Group, Anton Guinea, who has experience with his own workplace injury when he got electrocuted at 21, is an advocate for making safety simple.

“It's as simple as a safety management system sometimes, or a safety management plan that doesn't have to be detailed for the construction site, that's communicated to everyone on site”

Ms Jenke says when it comes to trying to reduce injuries and fatalities should be on the minds of all employees and by making sure that employees are aware of different safety training that is on offer.

“So, it's quite important that they are up to date on the occupational health and safety regulations and training as well for their employees.”

“The best way to do through training, of employees. So that they're well aware of the hazards within their workplace”