The construction industry is a hotbed of accidents and injuries, with construction workers accounting for 47.4% of all fatal occupational injuries in 2020 in the United States alone. Construction workers are exposed to environments where they can fall from great heights and come into contact with dangerous tools. While working, they can make serious mistakes or things can fall on them, both of which can result in injury and even death. These facts show that there is an urgent need to improve on-the-job safety for construction workers.
This two-blog series explores 10 safety measures that should be in place at every construction site. Too many construction companies ignore these measures, simply because they want to keep costs down. Unfortunately, the real cost of such a myopic viewpoint is even higher, not only in financial terms but also in terms of lost productivity and lost lives.
1. Equip Every Worker With Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Appropriate PPE is crucial on every construction site. Every worker must wear gloves, safety goggles, masks, and helmets/hard hats, especially if they work with toxic chemicals, fire-prone equipment, or heavy machinery. Anti-slip footwear is also necessary for working in dusty, toxic, or wet environments.
Ideally, workers must also wear earmuffs to protect their hearing, knee pads to prevent knee injuries, and vests to protect the torso. Respirators are crucial for workers working in low-oxygen/high-carbon areas.
All PPE must fit workers properly. They must also be kept clean and dry. All worn-out equipment must be replaced immediately.
2. Implement Fire Safety Equipment
Combustible materials and welding tools on construction sites can result in a fire that can spread very quickly and result in both material and human damage. That’s why it’s vital to implement strong fire safety measures in construction areas. Site supervisors and personnel should ensure that open flames are kept away from the site. They must also keep flammable materials away from sparks.
Emergency fire equipment should be readily available, updated, well-maintained, and properly labeled. All workers should know how to use the equipment. They should also be familiar with emergency routes in case they need to get out quickly. Wherever possible, fencing should be installed to keep a fire from spreading. Supervisors should regularly inspect all fencing and ensure that all damaged fencing is repaired on priority.
3. Ensure Proper Fall Protection
Falls are very common on construction sites and one of the leading causes of construction worker deaths. Fall harnesses can protect workers from falling and minimize the possibility of grievous injuries.
Harnesses should be installed for any worker working high off the ground. In addition, all workers should understand the fall hazards in an area before undertaking such work. Site managers should regularly inspect all fall arrest systems and install lanyards and lifelines to keep workers from impacting the ground.
In the United States, all safety measures for working at heights must comply with OSHA standards. To this end, companies must implement OSHA-approved guardrails, safety nets, and personal fall arrest systems, as well as measures to ensure the safety of confined spaces and excavation sites.
4. Ensure Ladder Safety
Ladder safety is another crucial safety measure that must be implemented on construction sites. Workers must only use steady ladders and avoid ladders that are even slightly wobbly. Personnel must check that wooden ladders are free from rot and metal ladders are free from corrosion.
The ladder’s steps should always be secured properly and wiped clean of water or other liquids that can cause a user to slip. A safe way to use a ladder is to fasten its upper and lower end. If this is not possible, someone should hold the ladder to keep it secure. Site managers should also implement fall protection, install clear fall hazard signs, and train workers on safe ladder usage.
5. Keep First Aid Kits Readily Available
To take care of smaller injuries, a first aid kit should be available at multiple easily-accessible locations around the site. Minor cuts, burns, or falls should be treated immediately to prevent infections or more serious injuries.
All workers should be trained on how to use the kit and provide emergency first aid. Whenever possible, a few workers should be trained as “first aid officers”, with one such officer assigned to about 25 workers.
If an injury is more serious than the kit or first aid officer can address, they should call for more expert medical help (e.g., an ambulance). All sites should implement proper protocols and thresholds to ensure that such actions are initiated in a timely manner. This is clearly seen in the example of the Slotogate website, which is one of the best in the online casino industry. All the largest are concentrated on the platform online casinos that accept paypal
Conclusion
Construction sites are notoriously dangerous workplaces so the five measures discussed here are all need-to-have. But these are not the only precautions required on these sites. In Part 2, we will discuss five more safety measures that are also must-haves in construction.
