Israel Faces 15-Year Shortage of Safety Supervisors Under New Regulations
Translated & summarized from Calcalist by baba
Israel's construction industry faces a 15-year deficit in safety supervisors needed to implement new regulations, according to Yehuda Lashman of the Contractors Association. The new rules aim to enhance worker safety by clarifying responsibilities across construction sites. Industry leaders discussed the challenges, including a shortage of engineers and the integration of foreign workers following the October 7th conflict. While the regulations are praised for their safety goals, concerns remain about their practical implementation and the potential for chaos on the ground.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel needs 15 years to train enough safety supervisors for new construction regulations.
- Approximately 6,000 construction sites must comply with the new safety rules.
- The industry faces a shortage of engineers and professional personnel.
- New regulations aim to revolutionize safety by defining responsibilities for all parties.
- Foreign workers require adapted training due to language barriers and new rules.
- 800 contractors reportedly collapsed in 2025, highlighting industry instability.
New safety regulations in Israel's construction industry are expected to take 15 years to fully implement due to a severe shortage of qualified safety supervisors, according to Yehuda Lashman, Deputy President and Chairman of the Infrastructure Division at the Contractors Association. Speaking at a Calcalist conference on workplace safety, Lashman stated that the industry currently trains only 90 safety supervisors annually, while approximately 6,000 construction sites will need to comply with the new rules, creating a significant deficit.
The new regulations, which aim to revolutionize safety in construction, industry, and agriculture by placing the worker at the center, were discussed by industry leaders. Moshe Ba'gad, Acting CEO of the National Institute for Safety and Health, expressed his vision for zero accidents and injuries, emphasizing the need for collaboration between government, businesses, and labor organizations. He highlighted ongoing efforts to promote occupational health and implement recommendations from a previous committee report.
Hazi Schwartzman, Chief at the Ministry of Labor, described the regulations as a "revolution" that clearly defines responsibilities for all parties involved, including developers and safety supervisors, establishing a "pyramid of responsibility." However, Lashman criticized the regulations as "thoughtless," citing a lack of engineers and the sheer number of sites requiring compliance. He also noted the recent collapse of contractors, with 800 failing in 2025 alone, and expressed concern over the potential impact on workers' families.
Mazal Golan, Chairwoman of the Construction and Related Industries Workers Union, addressed the challenges posed by the post-October 7th reality, which saw the departure of Palestinian workers and the subsequent influx of foreign laborers. She explained that training programs have been adapted to accommodate the diverse languages and needs of these new workers, with a focus on rapid safety instruction. While acknowledging the regulations' noble goal of reducing accidents, Golan pointed to the "chaos" in implementation, particularly for smaller contractors, and stressed the need for further coordination amidst ongoing challenges like the war and the integration of multilingual foreign workers.
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