It is not a secret that construction sites are considered one of the most dangerous working places for well-known reasons. Heights and heavy materials, in combination with tiredness and exhaustion, can lead to fatal outcomes for the workers on the construction sites. According to some data, it is indicated that every five deaths among US workers occur in the construction industry when compared to some previous years. These numbers have significantly increased. There is nothing to be said but that these statistics indicate that some construction companies are responsible for ensuring the best safety on the construction site as well as their employees’ safety. Here are some rules that should never be broken.
1. Height-Related Accidents
Have you ever been terrified by watching a construction worker doing his job on the twenty-seventh floor? Well, it’s for a good reason. Working at such heights is not only scary for you while you are standing firmly on the ground, but for them as well, even though they got used to it. Unfortunately, this is the reason why the construction industry accounts for over 46% of all fatal trips, slips, and falls. While they are working at these heights, employees are exposed to a whole range of different risks, such as falling from ladders or collapsing because of intensive pressure. The point is that injuries caused by falls are the most fatal, and surviving a fall from over 30 feet is almost impossible. These accidents normally happen because something is in the workers’ way. However, accidents like these can be prevented when companies introduce the concept of effective workplace management, which enables them to have more access to routes, corridors, site cabins, and stairwells. For these accidents to be prevented, construction companies should provide their employees with fall protection equipment as well as proper training.
2. Wear Your PPE at all Times
PPE is an essential part of the equipment on construction sites. Once you enter the construction site, you need to make sure that you have the PPE you need. This is your last line of defense when you come into immediate contact with a hazard on the site. Hi-vis will make sure you are easily seen, safety boots will give you a much better grip and will protect your feet, and hard hats are very easily replaceable, but your skull is not. PPE will not be able to protect you unless you wear it. You need to wear your safety boots, hard hat, and hi-vis vest at all times, along with some other required PPE.
3. Do Not Start Working on the Site Without Induction
Most workers get an induction whenever they start a new job. In construction, you need to get a new induction whenever you start working on a new project. Truth be told, every site has its own unique hazards and work operations. So, induction is a pre-project safety briefing provided to construction personnel in which they will learn what threats they may face, what precautions to take, and what safety measures have been put in place. In short, inductions are legal requirements as well as outlines of what happens when you get seriously hurt in an accident at the construction site. Your induction is an important aspect of your job, and it tells you where to sign in, what to avoid, and how to protect yourself. You should never start working without one.
4. Keep a Neat Site
Construction work and sites are messy. Slips and trips are very common and might not even seem like a problem when compared to some other, high-risk work that happens on the site, but, please, do not be fooled. According to some statistics, slips, and trips account for 31% of injuries on construction sites. You need to remember that your work area needs to be tidy throughout your entire shift so you can reduce the number of rips and slip hazards, especially in areas such as access and escape routes.
5. You Should Never Put Yourself and Others at Risk
On a construction site, one wrong move can be fatal. So, for these scenarios to be avoided, you should definitely create good health and safety habits and make sure to stick to them. Always take care of your well-being and keep checking on the well-being of the other workers as well. It is necessary to set a positive example, think safely, and behave in the same manner on the site. You are responsible for your own behavior, and you need to beware of danger throughout the entire shift.
6. Follow the Safety Signs and Procedures
For you to stay safe throughout your entire shift, you need to follow construction safety signs and procedures. These safety rules need to be explained in your personal copy of the induction. Safety procedures considerably differ for every site, and you need to make sure that all of the workers understand the required procedures and actions. Besides, to make your construction site even more secure, you need to receive a risk assessment for the activities. In this type of analysis, there is detailed information on the measures and activities to be taken when an unwanted situation occurs. Control measures aim to put your own safety first. For instance, some workers accept working in unsafe areas, which may cause over 50% of all construction fatalities. Whenever you feel like you are not able to work in such conditions, you should avoid it. You need to be aware of your surroundings and avoid dangers, such as heavy weights, as much as possible.
Construction sites are known to be very hazardous environments that pose a significant risk to anyone who works on or visits them. It is essential for you to go through a risk assessment and determine whether it is safe for you to work on a certain building site in order to protect yourself from any sort of danger that may be there. It goes without saying that you should constantly take care of both your own personal well-being and the well-being of your company. You should also make sure to wear safety equipment.