Construction is a dangerous job, but someone has to do it. There are nearly 12 million construction workers in the United States.
Every day, workplace injuries occur on construction sites. Some construction companies do a better job with employee safety than others. As evidence, small businesses with less than 20 employees make up 75% of fatal falls.
More experienced companies know how to identify and resolve workplace hazards. Read on for construction safety tips that are certain to improve workplace safety. Explore how to spot an unsafe workplace and help prevent injury.
Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)
You cannot operate a safe construction site without PPE. Simply put, employees should be wearing PPE whenever they step foot on the job.
Steel-toed boots are a must for employees to protect their feet. Construction workers should have safety glasses on, especially when operating saws, drills, and other tools.
If heavy dust or smoke is involved, employees should wear masks. Inhaling airborne pollutants can cause short and long-term health complications.
Physical Barriers
Outside of vehicular accidents, falls are the number one source of workplace deaths. Physical barriers are the best defense against slips, trips, and falls. These barriers take many different forms on a construction site.
For example, holes or uneven walking surfaces may be blocked off. Safety railings should be installed on all elevated surfaces. If proper physical barriers are not in place, a Los Angeles construction accident lawyer can win a large financial settlement.
Warning Signs
You will see warning signs on display throughout a safe construction site. There may be warning signs on the floor indicating slip or trip hazards.
Additional signs warn unauthorized personnel from entering a specific area. Around electrical equipment, you will observe signs warning of electrocution. Flammable gasses are another common warning given to construction workers.
Certification
Transportation incidents rank first for workplace fatalities. This involves vehicles, cranes, forklifts, and other motorized equipment.
A safe construction site does not allow any employee to jump on heavy-duty equipment. Instead, they have certification programs in place.
These involve written tests to make sure the operator knows the ins and outs of the equipment. It also includes on-the-job training where the employee is directly supervised while practicing it.
Training
Operating a safe construction site requires robust training programs. You cannot expect workers to show up and practice safety on day one.
In a training program, you can brief all workers on the company’s safety plan. You can inform employees of potential hazards and how to mitigate them. Training is an integral step for establishing a safety culture at the construction site.
Making Construction Safety a Priority
When these things are not in place on a construction site, you know something is off. The site may not have the proper precautions in place to protect its workforce.
Things like warning signs and robust training programs go a long way. The end goal is to implement a safety culture that encourages employees to prevent injury on their own. If you enjoyed this article about construction safety tips, check out our health blog for more great content.
