Your ACSA: Building a Safer Construction Industry by Protecting First-year Workers

Addressing the challenges of high-risk environments and the vital role of the community in keeping each other safe.

As a high-risk industry, construction companies are always grappling with how to keep workers safe on the job. And data shows that first-year workers are at the highest risk of getting hurt. Over the last five years, more than half of the construction industry's claims submitted to the Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) in Alberta involved workers in their first year. Each year, the National Day of Mourning highlights that regardless of how experienced the worker is, the results of a workplace injury can be devastating to the worker and their family, the company's morale and reputation, and our economy. This is why the Alberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA) is taking a holistic approach with its injury prevention campaign — reaching out to first- year workers' entire sphere of influence. That means construction owners, leaders, supervisors, health and safety representatives, and experienced workers to build awareness of new worker risks and for everyone to actively participate and look out for the first-year workers.

Equipping the industry with tools to improve safety

The construction industry faces real challenges in Alberta and across the country. The housing crunch is causing high demand for new builds, and labour shortages mean crews are doing more work with fewer skilled people. That, coupled with mental health and substance abuse issues, increases the risks in what is already a high-risk industry.

The ACSA is a member-centric, industry-funded not-for-profit organization established to support the Alberta construction industry in improving workplace health and safety. "It's important for less-experienced workers to know about the hazards they may face and what controls are in place to mitigate them," says

Mark Hoosein, ACSA'S CEO. In addition, they must actively participate in their company's safety training program and know they have the right to refuse unsafe work. Tenured workers must recognize they have a wealth of knowledge to share with first-year workers and hold influence over the work environment. Mark notes, "We need everyone on our construction sites to watch out for each other, and especially our first-year workers, to make sure they go home safe after every shift."

We need everyone on our construction sites to watch out for each other, and especially our first-year workers, to make sure they go home safe after every shift.

Visit youracsa.ca for information on safety training, certifications, designations, and resources, including the Construction Safety Training System, a free, on-demand safety orientation program.

This article was sponsored by the Alberta Construction Safety Association.