Occupational safety is one of the major concerns in the construction industry worldwide. According to an estimate, approximately 6.5 million Americans earn their living by working at over 252,000 construction sites across the country. The fatal injury rate is much higher in the construction industry than in any other industry in the United States. Some of the significant potential hazards for construction laborers include trench collapse, repetitive motion injuries, electric shock, arc flash, arc blast, scaffold collapse, falls from heights, and the absence of proper personal protective gear.
The construction industry must put several measures to ensure workers’ and laborers’ safety. Let’s look at some of the precautionary measures to help avoid occupational injuries to laborers at construction sites.
1. START WITH INDUCTIONS
The construction industry professionals are fully aware that inductions are a legal requirement on construction sites in the United States. So, this is why inductions should be on top of your list to ensure you develop a safe and secure construction site for your workers. Despite being a legal requirement, many construction sites don’t arrange inductions for their workers. It results in an increased number of occupational injuries to many of them.
It doesn’t cost a lot of resources. All you need to do is explain the challenges and potential hazards on the construction site, work safety protocols, site rules, and the list of available gears to protect laborers. Inductions help workers understand the construction site at a deeper level because not all areas are the same.
2. ON-JOB TRAINING AND FOCUS ON NEAT AND CLEAN ENVIRONMENT
It is essential to keep your workforce upgraded continuously about the latest concepts in the field of construction. You can easily pull this off by conducting various training programs on the job, using new tools, or giving your workforce information about the state rules. Keep your construction site clean is also essential for the health and safety of your workers. For instance, if your construction site is in Philadelphia, there are some specific rules and regulations about cleaning the construction site. It’s better to opt for the professional services of junk removal in Philadelphia. This practice always plays a crucial role in ensuring workers’ health and safety at the construction sites.
3. PAY ATTENTION TO PAPERWORK
Well, this is what separates big contractors from small ones. You would see all the leading contractors keeping detailed paperwork about safety management. The paperwork alone will not get the job done, but effective procedures will, which is why top contractors always have everything and every writing procedure. On the contrary, small contractors generally use informal processes to hire subcontractors and manage on-site operations. Keeping your paperwork updated also ensures that you’re complying with the local and state laws regarding construction sites.
4. ENSURE EFFECTIVE HOUSEKEEPING
Keeping things organized always helps in creating a safe work environment in every field. The chances for accidents surge manifolds if your tools lie at sixes and sevens at the construction site. It is where housekeeping comes into place in any workplace. Especially on construction sites, it is crucial to have proper housekeeping rules to clear all your routes, and your tools should be at their right place.
5. HAVE A SAFETY PLAN
Suppose you don’t plan for the safety of your workers at your construction sites. In that case, you prepare for disasters. Project management is all about planning different phases of a project and setting other targets by keeping in mind the challenges and risks. Proper planning must ensure your active construction site doesn’t face a significant risk of an accident. Poor planning not only results in accidents but also wastes resources vehemently. You can’t expect a team of 100 workers to complete the job of 1,000 workers in the same stipulated time. It is where you need proper planning, and while you hire the right number of workers for the job, you reduce the risk of accidents and pressure on site.
6. CARRY OUT SAFETY MEETINGS
Keeping a close look at the proceedings is one thing but becoming a part of the action is another. When you spend your time carrying out safety meetings with different construction managers and workers, you give your crew the best chance to get the job done with little or no hazards. These periodic safety meetings keep you in control of procedures and targets. Moreover, you get first-hand knowledge about any emerging dangers on the site. It allows you to come up with the solutions well ahead of a risk turning into a disaster.
Read More: How To Safeguard Electric Workers At The WorkSite?
THE FINAL WORD
The safety of workers and laborers on construction sites should be an integral part of any construction plan. Apart from the things mentioned above, project managers should also pay heed to certain things like maintaining an enabling and healthy work environment, providing healthy food, and providing the best tools.
