Alarming photographs from Norwegian building sites: These workers are risking their lives

Torgny Hasås

foreignworkers@lomedia.no

In this photograph, a worker is balancing at least seven metres above the ground without any safety equipment:

Fair Play Bygg Oslo

He will only add to the Labour Inspection Authority's depressing statistics if he falls.

Every year, between one and two workers die on Norwegian construction sites as a consequence of falls from height.

Building and construction is one of the industries in Norway with the highest number of accidents at work.

Since 2019, the industry has documented 947 falls from heights. Of them, 646 caused significant injuries. Nine people paid with their lives.

These numbers solely reflect accidents reported to the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority. Although companies legally must record all accidents, the hidden statistics remain high.

If the piece of timber on which this joiner is standing slides, he might fall to his death:

Arbeidstilsynet

At the absolute best, he would sustain severe injuries.

The two workers on the roof in this photograph do not have any safety equipment. The joiner working below the eaves is hanging on with one hand.

One man is balancing on top of the framework of the building. Another at the top of a ladder:

Vidar Sagmyr Byggebransjens uropatrulje

It would only take a minor slip for one of them to fall.

This scaffolding is at least one level lower than it should be:

Arbeidstilsynet

If the building being painted is four stories tall, scaffolding that only extends to the middle of the third story is insufficient. There is no guardrail to prevent a worker working on the highest level from falling.

The distance to the tarmac below was measured at seven metres.

When the snow comes, these boards become slippery:

Arbeidstilsynet

When the Labour Inspection Authority arrived at the building site one worker was standing at the top of a stepladder working.

There was a strong wind. A gust of wind could easily have disrupted the length of wood, sweeping the man off the stepladder and onto the basement's concrete floor.

Wooden scaffolding is legal, however the decking needs to be at least 60 cm wide. There should also be guardrails to prevent you from falling:

Vidar Sagmyr Byggebransjens uropatrulje

In this photograph, the scaffolding appears to be attached to the wall with some blocks attached to the wood panelling. If it loosens, this man will fall at least three metres to the ground.

A man is standing on the roof and painting on an angled surface without any form of safety equipment:

Vidar Sagmyr, Byggebransjens uropatrulje

In this photograph, a ladder is being used instead of scaffolding. A ladder is not an appropriate working platform. A ladder can only be used to get from one level to another.

Three pallets attached to a forklift truck provide him with the necessary height to change a light bulb:

Vidar Sagmyr Byggebransjens uropatrulje

However, even a little step backwards or to either side might have serious consequences.

A harness must be used when working on a roof:

Vidar Sagmyr Byggebransjens uropatrulje

The harness will keep you safe and prevent you from hitting the ground if you fall.

Those who are re-roofing the building do not have any safety equipment:

Vidar Sagmyr Byggebransjens uropatrulje

It is unclear if the man is standing on the ladder working, or whether he is on his way up to or down from the roof:

Vidar Sagmyr Byggebransjens uropatrulje

The ladder is too short to be used to climb and descend from the roof.

If he has to operate on the roof, neither a ladder nor a stepladder will do; instead, scaffolding will be required.

«I'm just going to…»:

Vidar Sagmyr Byggebransjens uropatrulje

Many accidents occur when someone intends to accomplish something little. However, a fall from a height can be just as fatal as whatever is being done.

This house is adorned with a beautiful decoration:

Arbeidstilsynet

However, while balancing on a stepladder, the worker attaching the decoration risks his life.

Things could go well as long as he can hold on tight, but if he needs to use force, for example with a hammer, he will have to loosen his grip.

Scaffolding on one side of the house is of no use if the extension is being built on the other side:

Workers risking their lives.

Arbeidstilsynet

The man on the extension does not have a harness or scaffolding. A single wrong step may result in a six to seven-metre fall to the ground. 

Until a concrete surface has been cast nothing is finished. A joist could be loose:

Fair Paly Bygg Oslo

This is precisely when a harness is essential to prevent a slip from resulting in a three-metre fall.

In this photo, scaffolding is built on several sides of the building, but not where the painter is working:

Torgny Hasås

Even if it may be difficult to reach the area where work is to be done, scaffolding must still be used.

Most of the photographs were taken by the Labour Inspection Authority and the building and construction industry’s watchdog Byggebransjens uropatrulje. Two were taken by Fair Play Bygg.

– Why are workers willing to risk their lives in this way?

– Often this will be because their employer does not provide the necessary equipment. This enables employers to make big savings. And in turn, has the effect of distorting competition, says Lars Mamen, chief executive of Fair Play Bygg.

When reroofing work is being done, scaffolding on one side of the building is not enough. However, workers do not always object, according to Lars Mamen, chief executive of Fair Play Bygg.

Håvard Sæbø

Fair Play Bygg is a collaboration between employers and employees, and it aims to fight social dumping and work-related crime in the construction industry.

Lars Mamen believes that one important reason that employers save on safety is that labour has become so cheap.

However: – You work much faster if you have safe working conditions, he says.

He argues that employees do not choose to work unsafely.

Dare not protest

– Many workers find that it is impossible to confront their employer and demand they provide the equipment needed to work safely. A confrontation could result in you losing your job, says Lars Mamen.

He emphasizes that workers and safety representatives need to have the self-confidence to refuse risky jobs. This self-confidence is present in respectable businesses, but not rogue ones.

The primary causes of falls from height

The Labour Inspection Authority investigated all falls from heights in the building and construction industries. They identified three key reasons of the accidents:

• Local hazards and inadequate equipment

The most prevalent threats were inadequately secured workplaces. For example, stairwells without railings and damaged scaffolding. Local hazards were a contributing cause in 77% of the incidents.

• Inadequate work management

Work planning, risk assessment, and hazard identification may all be faulty. This applies in 72% of accidents.

• The employee made a mistake

The Authority stresses that this does not mean that the employee is at fault:

"It is crucial to emphasise that even if actions and behaviour are major causative elements, this does not imply that the accident was caused by the particular employee. Employees are part of a system.  

Source: Ulykker i bygg og anlegg – rapport 2022 (Accidents in the building and construction industry – report 2022)