Minimize Construction Risks
Construction risks are often overlooked by the workers as well as employers. However, they are very dangerous as some of these can cause life-threatening accidents. So, it’s important to mitigate the safety hazards at the construction site. Here are 10 safety tips to keep in mind while you’re at it.
1) Be Cautious of Everything In and Around Your Work Zone
You always need to be on your toes around the construction site. To ensure safety at a construction site, your top priority should be protecting yourself and the others from any possible accidents. Don’t ignore any minor details like hazards lying down which can cause a trip, slip, or fall. Also, steer clear of electrical wires (especially the naked ones), particulates from grinding and dust.
2) Wear Proper Equipment
There’s a greater risk of injuries from accidents if you’re not wearing proper equipment at the construction site. Working conditions are different in different situations, so you need to pick safety equipment that will suit the task and safeguard the workers. For instance, when it comes to working at heights hard hats, lanyards, and harnesses are useful for protection against a fall. In addition to these, other protection equipment like safety goggles, back braces, rubber shoes, gloves, earmuffs, or full-face masks will decrease the risk of injury at a construction site.
3) Avoid Substance Abuse at Construction site
There’s a very close relationship between substance abuse and workplace fatalities. It not only reduces the productivity of the workers but also makes the environment unsafe for others. So stay sober while working at a construction site.
4) Inspect the Tools Before Using
Before using any tool, you need to ensure that it is not damaged. Damaged tools can lead to many hazards. See to it that they are inspected before use by a competent person. Use it only if they are in good working order.
5) Avoid Squatting or Kneeling
Instead of straining or twisting your body to make a heavy lift, use ergonomically designed equipment like shoulder dolly moving straps. Also, make sure to arrange your work in such a way that everything you will require for your task is within your reach.
6) Communicate
Every person at a construction site should be informed about the risks and hazards as they are more likely to be injured if they don’t know what to expect. Have clearly communicated safety plans and protocols in place.
7) Select the Equipment Which Is Best Suited for Working at Heights
Equipment of a particular size is not going to fit all your workers. Similarly, your fall protection solutions are not going to prevent every mishap. So, it’s important that you evaluate your requirements wisely and find out the best means to work at heights. Determine what suits your work best; scaffold, ladder, or lift, and take necessary steps for protection against fall.
8) Ensure Proper Use of Ladders
People are familiar with ladder, so they take it for granted which leads to many accidents at the construction site. The best way to avoid these accidents is to always assume you don’t have any idea of what you’re doing. But you have to keep in mind that ladders are really dangerous when they are improperly used.
First, you’ve to make sure that ladders are best suited for the work you’re doing. Ensure that the workers know how to properly use the ladder. The ladder should meet the 3-foot (height above the work surface) requirement. While mounting and dismounting a ladder the workers should always maintain three points of contact, that’s at least one hand and both feet. To avoid sliding or falling, the workers should secure the ladder by tying it at the top and bottom. Tool bags should be carried up by using a rope to pull things up or a tool belt. Also, ensure that the ladder is leaning at 4:1 ratio.
9) Avoid Crowding in the Work Areas
Crowding in work areas is one of the main reason behind the construction workers’ frustration at a workplace It not only affects their efficiency but also their safety. Usually, people gather around the operating area without any specific reason, simply to watch large machinery work as a habit. However, in the process, they make themselves more exposed to the injuries. That’s why whoever is working with large machinery should ensure that the bystanders should remain far away from the work site.
10) Train Your Workers Properly
You should train your employees properly if you want them to work safely at a construction site. Ensure that the construction workers know what safety measures to take in case of emergencies after the training sessions. Besides the fact that it is required by law, training is also necessary because without them the workers are more likely to get hurt or even get killed at the workplace.
Follow these tips to ensure proper construction site safety. The ultimate goal is to reduce the accidents and injuries at a construction site to a minimum level. Learn about more safety tips here.
Article source here: Ten Construction Jobsite Safety Tips To Keep In Mind
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