Are you working on a construction site? If so, we know that you know that a construction site is not the safest place. You might have heard of some freak accidents happening on construction sites before, but they are more common than you think. Still, with all the safety instructions, personal protective equipment, and countless regulations about safety, hazards are something that every person should be aware of all the time.
If you are not careful, you might be in the news the next day. So, if you want your construction site to be safer, we have some safety tips you might want to remember for your next shift. Here are some of them.
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Always Wear PPE
PPE is essential in construction sites. Everyone, even site visitors, should always wear PPE since accidents can happen to anyone, whether they’re working or just visiting the site. Of course, PPEs should include a helmet, glasses, gloves, etc.
You might think, “How can simple equipment like this hold against steel bars weighing many tons?” Of course, when it involves heavy objects like steel bars, they can’t protect the person wearing them effectively. Still, with small debris, rough surfaces, etc., PPEs remain very efficient in providing safety to a worker.
Use Fall Protection
In construction sites for high-rise buildings, it’s normal for people to be working on elevated areas. Not just in high-rise buildings, though, as a lot of other construction work needs to be done at an elevated level. Because of this, it can be helpful to use fall protection for all work that involves high areas. This is useful to decrease the likelihood of a fall and to minimize the risk of an injury if a fall occurs.
For example, one way to engage in fall protection is to give each team member a fall arrest system like a lanyard or lifeline attached to the top of the building. This prevents them from falling to the ground if they slip their footing. Another thing you can do is to employ padding or a safety net to catch anyone falling from a great height. Helmets are also essential to prevent the risk of a concussion or any head injury. You could also install warning beacons near areas with falling hazards to warn people from such places.
Communication is Key
Many people on the construction site aren’t exactly familiar with everyone working there. Some might not even be in the same company, and contractors work there for a limited time. But in any case, you should always learn how to communicate with other workers regardless of affiliation.
If you see something wrong with a process or a product, you should always reach out in a friendly manner and point out the problem. If you think it would be rude, then that’s fine. It’s better to sound rude than have something happen later because you didn’t point out a problem in the first place. It might be a tough hurdle for the anxious, but it’s necessary as long as safety is concerned.
Limit Crowd Sizes
Crowds are pretty common in construction sites that involve large teams. However, even though they provide a faster and easier workload, they can also threaten the teams themselves, so limiting crowd sizes in work areas is important. For example, if heavy machinery is used, you might want to limit the crowd to only those relevant to the machine and the work itself.
Keep Work Areas Clear
You also want to ensure that your work area is as clean and clear as possible. This reduces the potential of falling and slipping hazards in your area. Injuries like trips, lacerations, falls, and slices are common in places where materials and tools are just left lying around.
Practicing good housekeeping is essential to avoid these kinds of injuries from happening. And it should be not just you but everyone working on the construction site. Cleanliness can be equated to safety in workplaces.
Label Hazardous Materials Properly
Some job sites have chemicals on hand. If your workplace does have them, you might want to check if these hazardous chemicals have proper labels on them so they can be used and stored correctly. Certain types of construction-industry chemicals can be very dangerous when mishandled.
And if they are labeled incorrectly or not at all, a lot of accidents can happen, like burns, blindness, and even death. So, the best way to prevent this type of situation is to prevent them from happening, which is by properly labeling them for the other workers.
Final Words
Construction is a dangerous job. This is why it’s always essential to follow all safety instructions and always wear PPE. The tips discussed above should help you create a culture of safety in your construction site. This way, you can still get the job done while protecting the lives of your workmates.
