There has been a remarkable advancement in safety equipment and training courses for construction sites. However, the number of fatalities and accidents among workers continues to rise.
According to statistics, around 20% of the deaths occur at construction sites within the United States. The death toll has been on the rise in the construction industry over the past few years. It makes it important to improve the on-site safety of the workers.
Construction sites often have dangerous machinery and equipment. Such hazardous machinery can cause fatal injury if workers fail to follow safety protocols.
The safety and health of your employees should be your top priority. To keep your workers safe, you must ask them to follow safety measures at the construction site. Even technological development is taking place rapidly to minimize the risks for workers.
SmartBarrel is one of the companies offering a workforce management solution to track and mitigate incidents at construction sites.
Here we have compiled a list of the most helpful safety precautions for your construction site. Let’s take a look at them one by one.
- Trenching safety
Trenches are routes dug deep into the ground. These areas might have potential problems like suffocation or workers getting stuck in the debris if the trenches collapse. Usually, trenches are poorly established, and the soil distribution is uneven, which can cause numerous accidents without proper safety protocols.
Workers should always wear hard hats to avoid head injuries caused by falling debris. The construction site management should also mark the exits clearly and make trenches at an appropriate angle.
- Head protection on construction site
Head injury is the most common cause of fatality that usually occurs at a construction site. These sites are full of hazards like exposed wiring, falling objects, and trippy ceilings. Some of the worst consequences of head injuries include; seizures, memory loss, and even death.
A hard hat is a type of protective helmet that is an effective solution to avoid head injuries while working at a construction site. Most construction sites have made it mandatory to wear hard hats during work.
- Safety in a Forklift
Forklifts are among the most effective machines, but they can be risky if not properly managed. Only Highly trained professionals and skilled labor should operate this machinery. Since the machinery is often used in closed chambers, it is highly likely to injure workers around it.
Working areas must allow only trained personnel to operate forklifts. Plus, avoid modifying the machinery and remember to wear a seatbelt beforehand for extra protection.
- Fall protection
Often workers have to climb high and work at a specific height. Such construction sites must ensure a fall protection system for the workers. Those working at considerable heights might often trip over, resulting in serious injury.
The most important thing here is considering the weight limit that is safe to transport. Installation of rigid guardrails can help prevent such accidents. Moreover, the scaffolding must be secure enough to support the weight of workers.
- Safety at crane site
Cranes are the most critical machinery in construction but can pose significant risks for workers in terms of safety. Possible threats by a crane can include a worker getting hit by the crane’s load.
Safety Instructions for the workers here are not to run these cranes where workers are gathered. There are possibilities that the load might become unstable and fall on the workers. Moreover, workers here must barricade the radius before the operation of the crane. Here it is crucial to inspect the surrounding area.
- Implement a safety training program
A safety training program must be available to every worker at the construction site. This program will include how the workers have to prepare themselves for the worksite, what they must wear, and what they need to avoid. This way, they can prevent many possible threats at the working site.
- Safety checklist
Creating a safety checklist will help workers on-site follow the safety measure in real-time. It is better to formulate a list of safety measures and have every worker follow them. Try to have a digital safety and quality checklist. It is more convenient and easy to manage, and you can analyze the things your employees need to work on.
- Prepare a proper emergency plan
Workers must not panic when an emergency happens at a construction site. A wise decision here would be to follow a proper emergency action plan. Post this plan somewhere near, so workers know what to do in case of an injury or emergency. Mock exercises will help train the workers for these situations.
- No phones on construction sites
Cellphones can be a distraction. If any worker is using a cellphone at a construction site, they would not be able to pay attention to what is going around. Using phones during work hours should not be allowed to minimize the danger.
- 10.Keep a first aid hand kit on-site
Having a first aid kit on site is a must. Construction sites can expose workers to injuries at any time of the day. It would be easier to treat them on the spot with a first aid kit at hand. These kits may contain bandages, ointments, and ibuprofen. The first aid kit should be accessible to all the workers on-site.
- 11.Ladder safety
Many injuries can result while climbing or getting off the ladders at a construction site. If you don’t want this to happen, make sure you check the bolts and screws of the ladder beforehand. Workers must take precautionary measures while using a ladder.
You can also make sure that the ladder you have at work is sturdy enough to withstand the weight of the workers on site. Avoid placing the ladder on a slippery or uneven surface as it can cause possible injuries.
Bottom line
By following a proper safety protocol, you can avoid many fatal accidents and injuries at construction sites. Not only this, but a safe working site will also save your company from paying hefty penalty fees to the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration).
