The ability to separate work life from personal life can be quite a challenge for all of us at some point. Leaving work at the door is so important and necessary for a healthy work-life balance.
But for some, when work begins to impact you physically, this feeling doesn’t quite come back again.
Injury Statistics in the Construction Industry
[1]Between 2022 and 2023, there were 4,038 non-fatal injuries reported by employers within the construction industry. A concerning 33% of these injuries were caused by falls from height, with another 30% caused by slips, trips, or falls.
Alongside this, 14% were injured from being struck by a moving, flying, or falling object, with 7% injured while handling, lifting, or carrying goods. As a result of this, a total of 20% of working days in construction were lost due to these work-related injuries.
Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders
Others may have avoided an on-site injury, though unable to avoid the long-term effects of such injuries related to manual labour.
During a study conducted between [2]2020 – 2023, out of an estimated 69,000 construction workers, a concerning 54% reported suffering from a musculoskeletal disorder. [3]These disorders affect the muscles, joints, bones, tendons, and spinal disks.
This type of disorder can worsen or persist longer when workers are under pressure or engaging in strenuous manual labour. [4]Pain with Musculoskeletal disorders can last anywhere from a few months to a few years, and even in the most serious cases, this can result in permanent disability.
Sadly, this is a reality for some workers. So, how do you avoid becoming one of these statistics?
Leach’s Commitment to Safety and Innovation
Health and safety are paramount to any work environment, regardless of the industry or the type of work involved. However, what is important is the durability, sustainability, and effectiveness of equipment.
This is why, at Leach’s, we take time to listen to our customers and do our best to incorporate their ideas into real-life products that we feel will benefit the next generations of construction.
As modern buildings evolve, so must the equipment we use.
Introducing the BIGBEN Controlled Braked Pulley
This is why we’ve introduced our award-winning BIGBEN Controlled Braked Pulley, which is proven to be safer and quicker than a traditional Gin Wheel. Our innovative design incorporates controlled descent technology.
This means that if someone releases the rope for any reason while moving an object up or down, there won't be any sudden crashes to the ground or endangering unsuspecting individuals below. This piece of equipment has an auto descent rate of 1.5m/second, making it a safe and reliable must-have for any site.
We have created a pulley wheel crafted from solid aircraft alloy components, which ensures maximum strength while reducing the weight, helping users pull with ease and minimise strain.
The BIGBEN Controlled Braked Pulley has a SWL of 50kg and offset guide wheels, which ceases any chances that the rope from slipping or moving beyond the wheel.
What’s more is that the brake shoes and cartridge are easily accessible and replaceable, which ensures cost-effective, minimal downtime for maintenance.
Evolution from Traditional Equipment
The BIGBEN Controlled Braked Pulley has been developed from the traditional and certified Gin Wheel, which, although it seems cheap and cheerful, is not fit for purpose on modern construction sites, with users of Gin Wheels often facing increased physical strain on their bodies, resulting in a growing number of long-term injuries for Scaffolders.
Prioritising a Safer Work Environment
For many, those long-term effects seem like a lifetime away, while for others, it’s already impacting daily life. It’s about time we slow down these statistics and foster a safer environment for the next generation of workers so they can truly ‘leave work at the door’.
Click here to view our BIGBEN Controlled Braked Pulley and all its benefits!
[1] https://roofingtoday.co.uk/hse-statistics-2023-show-half-of-construction-deaths-were-falls-from-height/#:~:text=Falls%20from%20height%20were%20once,lost%20due%20to%20workplace%20injuries
[2] https://roofingtoday.co.uk/hse-statistics-2023-show-half-of-construction-deaths-were-falls-from-height/#:~:text=Falls%20from%20height%20were%20once,lost%20due%20to%20workplace%20injuries
[3] https://www.cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/health-strategies/musculoskeletal-disorders/index.html#:~:text=Musculoskeletal%20disorders%20(MSD)%20are%20injuries,to%20the%20condition%3B%20and%2For
[4]https://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/musculoskeletal.htm#:~:text=Workers%20who%20suffer%20from%20MSDs,term%20or%20'chronic'%20injury
