Recent deaths spur construction industry into action

Construction workers
Construction workers

A recent bout of workplace fatalities in Broward County spurred Miami-based construction industry group Safety Alliance For Excellence into action.

Since last month, at least six people have died in work-related accidents in Broward, four of which were construction workers. In response, the Safety Alliance For Excellence plans to meet with federal officials next month to discuss ways to improve workplace safety, according to the Sun-Sentinel.

“As we have a workforce stretched very thin right now, a lot of people who are inexperienced are coming onto construction sites, and that is causing an uptick in injuries,” said David Wessin, president Safety Alliance For Excellence. “The first six months of the year were relatively good, but we have seen a rash of [injuries] lately. We want to take a look at that.”

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Officials from the Fort Lauderdale office of the U.S. Labor Department’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration will also meet with Safety Alliance members, Wessin added.

“What do we need to be doing in [the] industry here?” Wessin said. “Maybe a buddy system, where we pair a seasoned veteran next to a new guy. We’re evaluating this stuff right now.” [Sun-Sentinel]Christopher Cameron