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The average construction site is a dangerous place to be in. There are plenty of hazards and fall risks, all of which have to be safely navigated by construction workers.
If something goes wrong on a construction site, the cost can be astronomical. People can be injured or even killed, and even if nobody is hurt, equipment and materials can be damaged and work wasted.
Health and safety on a construction site isn’t just a moral issue, it’s a legal issue. If your site is deemed unsafe and negligent, the project may be delayed or even shut down, and the company could be liable for damages. With this in mind, here are some ways to keep any construction site as safe as possible.
Use the Right Tools and Equipment
A construction worker is typically armed with tools and equipment designed for every job. If you use the correct tools, the job can be completely more quickly and safely. This applies to everything used in construction, from the materials, the nuts and bolts, and even the larger pieces of equipment.
For example, if scaffolding isn’t correctly installed, it can be incredibly dangerous for anyone working at a height. Your construction workers need to be able to trust the ground they’re standing on, and insecure scaffolding can lead to disaster.
This also applies to what the construction workers are wearing. Proper personal protective equipment will keep the workers as safe as possible. Hi-Vis clothing is necessary for any construction site, and protective footwear and eyewear prevent injury.
Proper Training
As well as having the right equipment on site and making sure it’s correctly installed, your construction workers also need to be properly trained. This applies to power tools as well as larger equipment like diggers and cranes.
Proper training leads to safe working practices. Even if someone is doing basic labour work, they need to know how to navigate the work site and how to properly lift and move materials. It might seem simple, but an injured back can put someone out of work and slow down the project.
Train your workers in the tools and techniques that they’ll be using. If a piece of equipment needs a qualified operator, make sure that you have someone with the right qualifications.
You also need to ensure that at least one person is trained in first aid. Quick treatment leads to quick recovery and can save lives. If there’s a fire, make sure that everyone knows what to do and how to safely leave the building site.
Construction Security
Construction sites are often the target of theft and vandalism. While this doesn’t always pose a threat to your workers, it can pose a huge threat to your project. Also, someone who isn’t meant to be on-site could be injured.
One way to prevent people from going onto the site is by using construction security methods. Cameras are a good start, as are personnel who are trained to prevent anyone from wandering onto the construction site.
