A construction worker narrowly escaped death after being lifted and carried under a pallet across the Toronto skyline.
A video of the ordeal has gone viral, and shows the tradesman dangling from a crane as he is lowered to safety.
The lucky rigger was caught in a tagline as he hooked up a pallet. When the crane pulled the load up, the worker was carried up with it.
Amazingly, the worker did not injure himself and the emergency services were not called.
This is not the first time a major incident has occurred on the same construction site. In July 2020, a crane collapsed and fell on a roof. Again, no one was hurt.
Closer to home
Construction injuries are common across the UK with a reported 61,000 non-fatal accidents a year. In some cases injuries caused have been life changing, putting tradespeople out work for extended periods of time, or ending their career entirely.
There are risks involved in most trades, but if you work in the following conditions the hazards increase:
- Working at height
- Moving objects
- Areas prone to slips, trips and falls
- Noisy environments
- Using power tools and heavy machinery, which can lead to hand-arm vibration syndrome
- Handling materials
- Working in trenches
- Areas with asbestos
- Working with electricity
- Areas with airborne fibres
Unfortunately, in some cases, accidents lead to death. In 2021/22 there were 123 work related fatalities across all sectors in Great Britain. 30 of these deaths were in the construction industry; with falls from height the main reason workers lost their lives.
What’s worth noting is the above numbers are for all types of work in Great Britain, not just the construction industry.
However, you can see that most accidental deaths occurred performing tasks that are often associated with the construction sector.
It’s therefore important to take all the necessary precautions to protect yourself and staff on site. This includes performing risk assessments and surveys before work starts, and making sure you’re equipped with the correct personal protective equipment (PPE).
Tradesman Talk
Do you work in a high-risk trade? And have you ever been involved in an accident, or witnessed one on site? Do you have any advice to reduce risks while working?
Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and share this content with your audience on social.
Until next time, make sure it’s Tradesman Saver.
