Introduction:
How many times have we heard, or even stated the following: “let that be a lesson to you”? We all need to learn from past mistakes to prevent a repeat event or undesirable consequence. Accidents and near misses are preventable but only if we first understand how and why they happen and take corrective actions. It is for this reason that the CIF has developed this portal for the sharing of both Lessons Learned / Best Practices in Health & Safety in Construction.
Objectives:
Routine inspections and incident investigations may identify unsafe working practices, which can facilitate learning from operational experience (i.e. lessons learned). The consequence of sharing of lessons learned across the wider construction industry would be fewer accidents, enhanced moral and increased productivity.
How to Share your Lesson Learned / Best Practice in Health & Safety:
There are two options for sharing a lessons learned/ best case example:
- Complete the entry fields provided at submit lessons learned page, or
- Complete the Word Template provided and email to: [email protected]
Best Practice / Lessons Learned should draw on both negative experiences and positive outcomes; for example, good ideas that improved health, safety and welfare onsite, and work tasks that would be done differently, if repeated.
Material uploaded onto the CIF webpage must be controlled. For this reason, the CIF Safety and Training department act as a review panel to confirm that no content is uploaded that could conflict with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), cause damage to a company’s reputation or create liability for a claim. Nonetheless, all contributors must take personal accountability for content provided.
Terms and Conditions:
- Portal is not to be used to document a fatality or an event under investigation by the Health and Safety Authority or other regulatory body;
- With exception of the optional field: “for further information”, avoid reference to an individual, client or company’s name, address, phone number or email;
- Avoid inclusion of personal data or material that may be subject to litigation, claim or investigation, or which may result in reputational damage for an individual, company, service provider or client.
Latest Best Practice / Lessons Learned Cases
We lament news of a recent workplace fatality in construction for 2021. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased. RIP.
We lament news of a recent workplace fatality in construction for 2021. This is the 6th confirmed fatality for the sector year to date. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased. RIP.
We lament news of a recent workplace fatality in construction for 2021. This is the fifth confirmed fatality for the sector year to date. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased. RIP.
An operative on a project received a compressed air injury to the palm of his hand from a paint sprayer. The IP was involved in the assembly and spray painting of site permit booths.
We lament confirmation of the fourth reported fatality in construction for 2021.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is reminding road users, particularly drivers, to be aware of the dangers posed by ‘sun glare’ during the summer months. Sun glare can result in drivers being temporarily dazzled or blinded by the intensity and brightness of the sun.
It is with sadness that we confirm the third fatality in construction for 2021.
A collaborative review of incidents and near-miss accidents involving Mag Drills highlights some lessons learned.
A Peri shutter panel was being lifted by a tower crane to form a perimeter retaining wall. As the panel was being lowered to its final position (approximately 9 feet above ground level), the Peri Ply element came away from the structural element of the shutter panel frame and landed to the ground.
Injured person sustained a broken finger when impacted by a folding concrete chute.
It is with sadness that we confirm the second fatality in construction for 2021.
It is with sadness that we confirm the first fatality in construction for 2021.
This lesson learned serves to highlight the potential hazards associated with working off a pick-up truck that is not equipped with edge protection.
Resurfacing works were being carried at a newly installed crossroad junction. A worker stepped towards a bitumen spray truck on the assumption it was going straight. At the same time the bitumen spray truck driver swung the truck left resulting in the back of the bitumen spray truck swinging out to the right. The protruding back steps on the bitumen spray truck stuck the worker in the left shoulder knocking him to the ground.
While driving along a dual carriageway, the driver felt heat emanating from the driver’s footwell. Quickly, the cab of the vehicle filled with black smoke. The driver pulled the vehicle over to the hard shoulder and departted the vehicle shortly before it went up in flames.
A few confirmed cases for COVID-19 were reported for construction in July/August 2020. The CIF engaged with the Health Services Executive (HSE) and others to ascertain any shared learnings for the broader sector.
The Health and Safety Authority issued this safety alert in 2020 following a fatal accident involving construction work on a farm.
Operatives were removing 1-meter kerbs from the shutter. The excavator driver was attempting to pick-up a kerb with the bucket of the machine when the injured person entered the red zone to assist the machine driver by lifting the front of the kerb into the excavator bucket. Subsequently, the excavator driver manoeuvred the bucket and caught the worker’s left hand between the kerb and the bucket, causing injury.
A worker was drilling unistrut using a 36-volt battery drill on an upturned cable reel. The worker was holding the unistrut in place with his left-hand and using the hand-held drill with their right. When drilling the unistrut, the drill slid across the unistrut and met the workers left-hand thumb, resulting in a serious injury to his thumb.
Two individuals working for a subcontractor were injured in a fall from height. Tragically, one suffered fatal injuries. The scissor lift they were working from was struck by an overhead travelling crane operated by a third-party contractor engaged by the client, causing it to topple over.
Sign Up for Alerts:
Routinely, the CIF will share a safety alert for lessons learned; should this be of interest, it is suggested to sign-up for alerts of new materials here.