In almost every industry, safety is an important priority. Construction is no different. According to a study, 99% of construction workers believe that site safety will result in higher productivity and reduced liability.
Whether you plan to set up a construction site or upgrade your current one, it’s hard to keep it safe. Construction work is full of hazards that can injure or kill you, and it takes a lot of time to fix an accident.
The biggest risk at these sites is a lack of proper and effective safety measures. You can use several safety features to protect your workers and the general public from possible injuries, even death.
7 Steps to Help You Keep Your Construction Site Safe
Safety is a top priority for any construction site. Here are seven ways to keep your construction site safe:
1. Safety Training for Site Workers
The first step to keeping your construction site safe is ensuring all your workers are properly trained. That includes both those who are new and those who have been there for years.
The perfect way to do this is to ensure that every new employee undergoes a comprehensive training program before starting work on the site. You should also require that current employees get refresher courses every few years.
This training should cover topics such as:
- How to use equipment safely
- Recognizing dangerous situations and how to avoid them
- How to protect yourself from injuries and diseases
- How to recognize hazards on the construction site and report them
2. Constant Safety Inspections
Safety assurance is one of the key elements of construction site safety. It is important to have constant safety inspections by qualified professionals to ensure that all aspects of the construction activities are done safely. Your safety inspection officer should:
- Ensure that there are no dangerous objects littered on the site.
- Ensure that all employees follow proper safety procedures and wear appropriate safety gear while working on the site.
- Ensure all equipment used at the site is well maintained and in good working condition before using it on the job site.
3. On-site Security
Construction sites are often places people go to find work, make a living, and fulfill their dreams.
However, construction sites also present a unique set of challenges. They can be dangerous places with a lot of heavy machinery and equipment. And they attract people who might not belong there—whether they’re looking to steal or just curious about what’s happening.
Hiring construction security guards is a perfect way to avoid any problems at your site. These guards will keep an eye out for any suspicious activity and help keep your site safe from intruders.
4. Safety Assessment Practices
Safety assessments should be conducted regularly throughout your project, especially at the beginning and end of each day. That allows you to identify any issues that need addressing immediately, such as loose scaffolding or damaged equipment.
5. Use Visible Signs and Instruction Guides
It is important to use visible signs and instruction guides to let workers know what they should do and how to do it safely.
The most important thing is to ensure that everyone understands what each sign means and how they are supposed to behave when they see it. You can do this by having an orientation session with all new employees before they start working on your site.
These signs can be placed on the walls of the construction site and in areas where workers are standing. That way, everyone is informed about safety practices, and you don’t have any accidents because of miscommunication.
6. Provide Protective Gear
Providing protective gear, such as hard hats and safety shoes, is also important. These will protect your employees from injuries caused by falling objects or heavy equipment.
It is also a great idea to provide them with gloves to avoid cuts while working with sharp objects like glass shards or metal pieces from broken windows or doors that might be lying on your site at any time during construction work.
7. Fast & Accessible First Aid (Equipment and Personnel)
You must ensure that your site has fast and accessible first aid equipment. Make sure it’s easy to find and not buried in a box or cabinet that requires a ladder to reach. Keep it stocked with everything you might need, including bandages, antiseptic wipes, moleskin, tweezers, and scissors.
Conclusion
This list outlines many safety tips you can use on your construction site, ranging from preventing injuries to workers to minimizing any disruptions around your site. Construction is a place with very real danger for the people working in it, and the above-mentioned tips will ensure that you are doing everything possible to keep your workers safe.
