Just over half of Malta’s construction sites, 53%, fall short of occupational safety standards, particularly concerning protection against falls from heights.
This emerges from 91 inspections carried out by the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) in July, in the aftermath of a tragic accident which left two people dead in April.
Following these inspections, the OHSA is expected to take legal action in 30 cases. According to the OHSA’s annual report, tabled in parliament last week, contractors still cite high costs as a stumbling block for higher levels of protection. But according to the authority not even “low cost measures are not being undertaken”.
The only positive development noted by the OHSA is that the use of scaffolding systems is increasing to replace the use of suspended and “inherently unsafe” platforms.
The inspections also revealed that 65% of construction sites lack adequate health and safety signs, and 37% provide protection to third parties during works. 34% of construction sites were also found lacking when it comes to the use of protective equipment and 30% lacked adequate supplies of first aid equipment.
The authority also proposes that planning permits should not be issued unless requirements on health and safety are satisfied.
Another legal vacuum identified by the OHSA is the lack of criminal legislation to ensure a distance between buildings during excavation works.
“This is a potentially dangerous situation since the closer one gets to existing buildings, the greater the risks through vibrations and ensuing vibrations.”
According to the OHSA the inherent danger is evidenced “by the large number of accidents that occur when such a distance is not respected.”
The OHSA also expressed concern on the use of foreign workers in the construction industry. Over the past five years, seven foreign workers lost their lives in accidents on construction sites. These amount to 26% of all work-related fatalities.
“The use of workers who are poorly informed, inadequately trained and with whom communication is inherently problematic, greatly increases the associated problems,” the report says.
The Authority has tried to address this problem by proposing joint inspections with national entities responsible for clamping down on illegal employment. But according to the OHSA, these discussions have not had the desired results.

jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt