The deadlier the workplace

When discussing death and serious injury, statistics can only make it more painful and provoke more anger.

The Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) may take credit for the general decline in the workplace death rate since it was set up 20 years ago. However, what really matters to many, especially those directly affected, is why accidents at workplaces, especially construction sites, continue to happen practically in the same pattern.

The number of ‘cowboys’ engaged in the lucrative construction and building industry skyrocketed over the past two decades. Quality is of concern even to architects worth their salt. Precarious work is widespread. Safety officers take on more than they can chew. Haste is an imperative. All this as structures grow higher and tools and equipment become more dangerous to use unless proper training in handling is given.

In a candid interview with Times of Malta recently, Mark Gauci, chief executive at the health and safety regulator, made some worrying revelations. Revelations, that is, to ordinary people, not those involved in the industry who know exactly what is going on but persist as more lives and limbs are lost.

He pointed out that...