Contractors Warn of Construction Site Shutdowns Over Safety Officer Shortage

Thousands of construction sites across Israel may face difficulties and potential closures due to a severe shortage of qualified safety officers, according to the Association of Contractors and Builders in Israel. This situation could lead to significant delays in the delivery of tens of thousands of new homes to families. The warnings come ahead of new safety regulations set to take effect on Friday, which aim to reduce accidents in the construction industry.

The Ministry of Labor, in conjunction with the National Safety and Health Institute, is promoting reforms to decrease construction site accidents. Concurrently, the ministry intends to enforce a mandate for appointing safety officers at construction sites, a requirement stemming from 1990s regulations that contractors claim have not been enforced due to a lack of qualified professionals. The contractors argue that this enforcement, without addressing the shortage, could result in site shutdowns, harm to workers, and delays in residential and infrastructure projects.

The Association of Contractors estimates a deficit of over 6,000 safety officers, stating that current training rates will not close this gap for at least 15 years. They warn that many construction companies may be unable to comply with the new requirements, even if they wish to continue operations. The construction sector faces significant safety challenges, with 47 workers killed in construction accidents in 2023, accounting for approximately 59% of all work-related fatalities in Israel that year. Around 300 workers were also reported injured.

New regulations expand safety responsibilities beyond contractors and site managers to include clients, such as developers and real estate companies. These clients must now actively participate in risk prevention, allocate safety resources, and oversee compliance. Construction cannot begin without a safety plan, defined resources, and a designated safety supervisor appointed by the client. For larger sites (over 15,000 square meters), a site manager with civil engineering training will also be required.

Ministry officials, however, dispute the contractors' claims. Hazi Schwartzman, Head of the Safety and Occupational Health Administration, stated that the requirement for safety officers has existed for years and that the ministry is now intensifying enforcement of existing law, not implementing new rules. He clarified that a safety officer does not need to be full-time on-site and can oversee multiple locations. The ministry plans a two-week nationwide enforcement campaign starting Sunday, with non-compliant sites facing closure. Robi Shemesh, Director General of the Ministry of Labor, emphasized that the safety reform is the most significant step in decades to protect workers' lives and health, assuring that employers and workers will be informed before enforcement begins.