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.