Building site safety is among the most overlooked things during construction projects. Construction work is among the most dangerous occupations. On the job site work is where the majority of accidents happen. Employers must mitigate safety hazards to workers, yet workers must bear in mind many precautions themselves while working in these types of hazardous conditions. Therefore, leaders in the construction industry should strive to protect their workers — if not for ethical reasons, for economic ones. Here are four ways construction businesses may promote building site safety and decrease workplace accidents.
Awareness is important
Before any employee — no matter her or his experience level or role— may set foot on a building site, she or he should be completely aware of the potential hazards. Ignorant employees are perhaps the number one danger within any industry because their unknowing errors place everyone else at risk. Knowledge of perils at hand and maintaining a perpetual state of awareness is the best method of preventing accidents.
You should have the proper equipment
In order to create a culture centering around building site safety, you should give employees the right equipment and adequate workspace for the task at hand. Without the right equipment, like crossovers and metal stairs, you cannot have building site safety because there always will be a chance to get injured using improper equipment.
Crossovers and metal stairs permit an individual to securely walk over busy workspaces, obstacles, heavy traffic, or hazardous environments rather than going through or around them. Well-placed crossover platforms also can protect conveyors, pipes, and equipment from foot traffic damage, decreasing production downtime and process system maintenance costs.
Offer the right training
Even though the majority of a construction employee’s skills may be gained while on the job, safety is a skill set that’s best learned before entering the building site. OSHA and other institutions publish resources that assist businesses in training their new laborers about standard security and safety practices, which include worksheets, pamphlets, training videos, and on-site training opportunities. Skilled employees must be expected to refresh their standard safety knowledge by attending routine training sessions all throughout the year.
Make sure there is good communication
Accidents occur more often when employees aren’t sure what to expect. Direct communication of the day’s activities and goals cut down on surprises that might lead to bodily harm. Construction companies would be smart to equip employees with devices, such as walkie-talkies, smartphones, or headsets, allowing efficient and fast communication among crew members. Without correct communication between everyone on the building site, employees will not know what to expect. Concise and clear communication with everyone not just makes the job go by more quickly but also assists in keeping each individual informed.
The goal for the building industry includes reducing workplace injuries, accidents, and fatalities to zero. The fewer accidents that exist, the more popular the building industry will be. There isn’t any set way to lower the number of accidents to zero yet following these four building site safety practices will assist in paving the road to get there.