Construction site on stormy days/PR
621 moderately-severely injured, 83 deaths: 2023 was the most difficult in at least 5 years - and broke records in the number of deaths and work accidents.
Compared to last year, this is an alarming increase of 33% in the number of fatalities.
This is how the safety report for the employee line for 2023 emerges.
Surprisingly, the report states that, although the war stopped most of the work in industries rife with accidents, many workers were killed in work accidents precisely during the months of the war.
Also, the authors of the report point out that in the interviews they held with workers in the construction industry, it emerged that the workers understand, "without a choice", that safety at work rests mainly on their shoulders, when no one else takes care of them at the construction site.
"In the absence of training, in the absence of protective equipment, in the absence of supervision at the work sites, no party takes responsibility for the lives of the workers in the dangerous jobs. They report buying personal protective equipment themselves, and learn about safety and risks through YouTube or word of mouth," the report states.
A contractor will do as he sees fit
The safety report of Ko LeOved for 2023 finds that the "safety climate" in the State of Israel, and specifically in the construction industry, is at an unprecedented low.
The lack of deterrence, the paucity of sanctions, and the policy of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration led to the fact that every contractor does as he sees fit - without fearing the consequences of his actions.
The report finds that beyond the steep increase in the number of fatalities in the construction industry, which as mentioned stands at 33% compared to last year, the number of work accidents in Israel is 2.5 times higher than the average in the countries of the European Union, the number of safety orders imposed by the safety manager continues to decrease that is not related to the war, and the regulation designed to protect the workers has been delayed in the various government offices for years.
In light of the difficult findings, the Worker Line organization states that its recommendation to establish a national authority for occupational safety and health is more relevant than ever, when millions of workers in Israel need protection and are waiting for its establishment like breathing air.
Fatalities in work accidents by industry/line per employee
At the end of the report, Ko LaOved claims that "close to the publication of the Ko LaOved report, the safety manager also published his annual report, admitting that the number of fatalities in work accidents was relatively high compared to the past year, but this year also does not count certain accidents. The lack of agreement between us and the manager does not amount to a number the victims and in the criteria for classifying the accidents, because if it comes to essential and principled places - that require intervention."
According to Attorney Diana Barron, Director of the Research and Public Policy Department at Ko LeOved, "I will refer to the decision made by the government (and at this point canceled), to close the Safety and Corrective Institution and transfer some of its employees to the Safety Director at the Ministry of Labor.
Concerned about the proposal, which contradicts the voice of reason and the recommendations of the Adam Committee, we called, together with the Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health, to preserve the activity of this important body, which deals with employee training and essential research, and to establish a national authority for occupational safety and health under which the Mosel and the Safety Administration will be together. Our appeals The reasoning and the lobby work led to the freezing of the move to close the Mosel, and we will continue to work to ensure that the union between the Mosel and the Safety Administration is carried out within the framework of a national, professional and independent authority, as recommended by the Adam Committee.
"On behalf of the workers who need protections, enforcement, research, imposition of sanctions against abusive employers, legislation, care and procedures that have their well-being and safety in mind - let's hope this is the direction we're going," concludes Baron.
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