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Top 9 Safety Hazards and OHS Compliance Risks of Construction Sites

Construction remains one of Canada’s highest-risk industries. That’s why roughly 50% of all reported Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) penalties involve construction work. Provincial regulators cite these as the top nine construction hazards that result in injuries, fines, stop-work, and other compliance orders.

1. Falls from Heights

Vertical fall is the leading cause of fatalities and serious injuries in construction. Common violations:

  • Lack of or inadequate fall protection equipment or systems.
  • Missing tie-offs.
  • Improper scaffold access.
  • Unsecured ladders.
  • Failure to properly inspect elevated work areas.
  • Inadequate training.
  • Lack of rescue planning.

2. Struck-By Incidents

Construction workers are frequently injured by moving equipment, falling materials, or swinging loads. Common violations:

  • Deficient exclusion zones.
  • Uncontrolled suspended loads.
  • Inadequate or absence of traffic control plans.
  • Problems with signaling and spotting procedures or personnel.

3. Caught-In or Between Hazards

These incidents often involve trench collapses, rotating equipment, or pinch points. Common violations:

  • Unguarded moving parts.
  • Failure to implement proper lockout tagout procedures.
  • Worker entry into unprotected excavations.

4. Electrical Hazards

Contact with energized systems can result in electrocution or arc flash. Common violations:

  • Damaged electrical cords.
  • Improper grounding.
  • Failure to de-energize equipment.
  • Working near overhead lines without controls.
  • Allowing untrained personnel to work on or near energized equipment.

5. Excavation and Trenching Hazards

Excavation work is among the most dangerous and heavily scrutinized construction operations. Common violations:

  • Unsupported or unshored trenches.
  • Failure to classify soil.
  • Water accumulation.
  • Spoil piles too close to edges.
  • Lack of safe means of access and exit.
  • Improper inspection.

6. Hazardous Materials Exposure

Construction workers may be exposed to asbestos, silica, lead, solvents, and other harmful substances. Common violations:

  • Improper or missing Safety Data Sheets or WHMIS labels.
  • Deficient or missing exposure control plans.
  • Inadequate respiratory protection equipment.
  • Lack of respirator fit testing.
  • Poor ventilation.
  • No exposure monitoring.

7. Powered Mobile Equipment (PME) Mishaps

Construction work often involves use of forklifts and other PME that can endanger both operators and nearby workers. Common violations:

  • Operation of PME by uncertified personnel.
  • Lack of visibility controls, backup alarms, rollover protective systems, or other safety devices on PME.
  • Failure to properly inspect and maintain PME.
  • Not implementing safe operating procedures.
  • Deficient or inadequate traffic control plans.

8. Scaffold and Temporary Structure Failures

Scaffolds and temporary platforms are a perennial danger and OHS liability risk. Common violations:

  • Missing guardrails.
  • Incomplete planking.
  • Lack of engineer certification.
  • Incompetent assembly or disassembly.
  • Exceeding the equipment’s load ratings.
  • Unauthorized modifications.
  • Poor maintenance and inspection.

9. Musculoskeletal Injuries (MSIs)

Construction work involves high risk of MSIs especially when workers lift, move, stack, or handle equipment and materials manually. Common violations:

  • Not performing ergonomic assessments.
  • Lack of mechanical aids.
  • Ergonomically unsound tools or equipment.
  • Not implementing procedures for safe lifting and other manual handling tasks.
  • Inadequate repetitive motion controls or task rotation.