Accidents happen a lot on construction sites, but they can also be avoided entirely. It is no surprise that this type of workplace is awash in various safety hazards. And these hazards can easily lead to severe injury or even death.
Some of the common risk factors in construction job sites are falling debris, uneven floor surfaces, moving vehicles, and heavy machinery. Even though these things can make your workplace inherently dangerous, it is possible to minimize the threat they pose.
Minimize Site Accidents With These Steps
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction is among the industries with the highest percentages of deadly workplace injuries. In 2015, there were a total of 10.1 records for every 100,000 employees. However, with improved and innovative approaches toward safety, the present statistics are much better compared to the ones two decades ago.
A job in the construction industry can still be a safe one. For one, workers must be aware of slipt trip injuries and other hazards inherent in their workplace. Two, they should always follow effective safety methods and ways.
Aside from those, below are other ways workers and project managers can avoid accidents and injuries in their workplace:
1. Assess Risks
All construction sites must be inspected before work begins. The company should thoroughly examine any possible hazards and dangers. By identifying the specific threats and their potential capacity to cause accidents, you can develop the appropriate safety plan. It can save construction projects a great deal when it comes to lives and even operating and legal costs.
2. Invest On High-Quality Protective Gear
Stay on top of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) requirements for PPE. Remember that personal protective equipment (PPE) is fundamental on a construction site for safety. Maintain a safe working environment on an active construction site by letting workers wear and use the latest and highest-quality gear and protective clothing.
Before, a regular hard hat, reflective vest, and hard toe boots were all that was required. However, the industry has become more vigilant about the high number of accidents on construction sites.
3. Have A Meeting About Safety
Several safety measures need to be explained to employees depending on their designations and job site. Risks change as a project advances. A project manager or team leader is responsible for ensuring everyone on the job site understands safety regulations and is provided with the necessary instruction. Keeping everyone on the same page is effective through holding daily meetings.
4. Maintain Equipment Regularly
Today’s construction sites heavily rely on technologically advanced machinery. They require significant downtime maintenance. The majority of site accidents often occur because of heavy machinery. The more systematically you maintain these massive machines, the greater your chances are of avoiding severe malfunctions, which can lead to damage and injuries.
5. Comply To All Safety Regulations
Before the OSHA standard, there had been no set safe distance for employees working on roof edges. To prevent accidents, OSHA created a rule about it, which mandates people to maintain a distance of six feet away from these edges. This means that whoever works below the 6-feet requirement will need to wear conventional fall protection systems. Other than this OSHA implied rule, apply additional roofing tips to help keep your employees safe.
6. Use Effective Signages For Dangerous Areas
A prominent label should be put on wires and high voltage areas. And when no one uses power, the electricity must be turned off. There should be warning tapes and neon signs with a clear boundary around the area. Do this to prevent access into sections where there is a risk of getting hit with falling debris or other dangers.
7. Maintain A Safety Culture
A culture of safety is predominantly a term used in the healthcare industry wherein lives are always at stake. It can also be applied in the construction industry as well. It is a must that you cultivate it in your workplace as it isn’t an option but a requirement.
In enriching a culture based on safety, your workers will have a more positive attitude towards keeping the workplace free of injuries. They may become accustomed to doing frequent functional risk assessments themselves.
8. Secure First Aid
You have to be prepared for accidents in your construction site by always having first aid kits available. Law requires employers to provide employees with a simple first aid kit containing bare essentials. However, when it comes to ensuring the safety of your workers, it will help to invest more than just the bare essentials.
Upgrade your first aid kit if you notice that the kit’s content is outdated and is already a few years old.
Conclusion
To ensure that all employees are on board, it is imperative to train, encourage, and repeat all these tips to them. Even if your staff might feel the safety meetings are tedious, they must understand how crucial they are. Following these tips emphasize the importance of teamwork and commitment, which results in a safer working environment for all.
