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February 24, 2021
Construction site safety should be one of the key priorities in a worksite. Workers and employees are constantly handling different types of heavy machinery, sharp blades, and other tools that help them get their work done. Without the proper protocols in place, accidents may happen more frequently. Not only will these issues affect the quality of the project, but may also lead to safety hazards that can endanger all employees on the ground.
To make sure that site efficiency and safety are maintained in a construction project, site managers see to it that safety protocols are in place. Employees are mandated to wear the right protective gear at all times. More than just that, managers also ensure that the site remains organized, employees are using the correct tools, and that every activity is well-supervised. Continue reading to learn more.
Depending on the scope of the project, there may be various activities that take place in a construction site. Some of these include carpentry, electrical works, equipment installation, excavating, grading, plumbing, fabricating, welding, and the like. Workers involved in these activities must see to it that they’re wearing the right protective equipment before they can even begin work. This should also be strictly enforced on any kind of construction project, no matter the scale.
Some types of these protective equipment are the following:
Aside from the clothing, it’s also the job of managers to put in place several signs and markers all throughout the construction site. This reminds employees to wear their PPEs and also be mindful of danger zones.
Scaffolding is a temporary structure that helps workers reach certain areas of a building. These are also used for added support to the building during the construction phase, allowing workers to make certain adjustments and modifications.
Oftentimes, scaffolding is used to support more than a single person at any given time. For this reason, they have to be set up properly so that they can support heavy loads. All scaffolding components must be secured together to avoid any unstable areas or wobbly portions that can cause fatal accidents.
Before the start of operations, the scaffolding must be inspected by personnel to make sure everything is in order. The structure should be well protected by planks, railings, baseplates, beans, and ladders for the safety and navigability of the workers. All of these should also be done after. Any broken or loose components should be immediately replaced to avoid injuries and falls.
Due to the nature of all construction jobs, they carry safety risks that everyone involved in the project should understand. Although all workers have some idea of what these risks are, they still have to undergo briefing prior to the start of any job.
In construction, these briefings are oftentimes referred to as inductions. Every team involved in the project will be made aware of safety risks, hazards, protocols, safety techniques, and the like. The goal of every induction is to prepare each worker for the job. They’ll be informed about the remediations for any issues and the right avenues to go to in any case of a problem.
With all of these in mind, no construction site job should start without at least a safety briefing. This is to get everybody in line with what to do in the event that such accidents do occur. The chain of command will be clearly defined during the project, allowing everyone to be in the loop regarding all information relevant to the job.
Every problem should be reported to the right supervisors and managers in a construction site. For example, when a worker encounters issues with the piping, these should be immediately reported to the right people. It may be possible that the problem may cause higher expenses or even project delays, but leaving it unaddressed in the long-run would be even costlier. The owner and the contractor may also be held accountable for failure to report such issues.
Managers should make it explicitly known to their team that whatever problems that occur in the site should not go unreported. Likewise, there should also be designated personnel who will conduct inspections and daily supervisions on all kinds of work being done on the site. These are done to avoid problems in the first place or to minimize their effect on the entire project.
It goes without saying, but every construction site worker should see to it that they’re using the proper tools and equipment for the project. This is to maintain the level of productivity, while also simultaneously avoiding safety hazards.
All employees should undergo proper training and receive the right certifications to use tools and heavy machinery.
For example, when someone needs to transport materials from one location to another, using heavy machinery such as forklifts or wheel loaders — depending on the kind of materials — may be better instead of utility carts.
In much the same way, managers should always be ready to have all these machineries ready and accessible by authorized personnel.
In this simple guide, we’ve covered just some of the most useful construction site safety. It’s the job of managers to streamline workflow processes to secure the safety of everyone working on a specific project. With the right safety protocols in mind, getting the job done efficiently is certainly possible.
Do you want to improve the safety of your work site? Cross-Link Electric & Construction Corporation can provide you with the manpower to make it happen. Our professional team of contractors are trained to produce high-quality output in the safest manner, whatever the project. Click here to get in touch with us!
