How to watch out for the safety of workers in the construction industry

Posted by Cynthia Madison on March 11th, 2020

Worker-related accidents lead to social and economic problems through the loss of life and physical injuries. The most numerous fatalities occur in the construction industry, which means that construction workers have highly dangerous jobs. There are so many people to oversee and so many projects to complete that the employer and main contractor don’t think too much about safety. Given that all construction workers have a right to work on sites where they don’t get hurt, it’s important to take the necessary measures to mitigate safety hazards. In what follows, we’ll discuss the main strategies used to keep construction workers safe.

Ensure workers wear protective gear 

As the name clearly suggests, protective equipment protects the user against the health and safety risks at work. Examples of protective gear include helmets, clothing, goggles, and other items that are meant to protect the user’s body from injury. Wearing proper protective equipment can make the difference between a minor injury and a long-term injury or death. It actively reduces accidents, enhances the health of individuals, and makes for a safer, more secure work environment. 

Let’s talk about head protection for a little bit. Hard hats are a necessity on construction sites, acting as reinforcement against the dangers posed to workers from falling materials. Interestingly, helmets protect against debris, rain, and electric shock as well. Some of them feature accessories such as face shields and earmuffs. People working in locations where there is a serious risk of sustaining head injuries from falling or flying objects ought to wear approved head protection. 

What about hand and skin protection? It’s of paramount importance for construction workers to protect their hands from skin injuries such as chemical or electrical burns. Sharp objects of machinery can easily damage the surface of the skin. Needless to say, an open wound requires stitches and even surgery. Gloves provide a barrier of protection against cuts and scrapes. 

Construction clothing isn’t about fashion. The apparel is functional. Generally speaking, employees are required to wear short-sleeved or long-sleeved shirts. No sleeveless attire is permitted. Most importantly, construction workers have to keep warm and dry. To increase productivity and reduce the chances of an injury, they need to wear thermal clothing that acts as a second skin. 

Train new workers on safety and security practices 

Many skills can be acquired on the job. Unfortunately, safety isn’t one of them. It’s recommended to train new workers on standard safety and security practices. This way, you’ll fully meet regulations and contribute to the success of the project. People need to receive guidance from a professional, i.e. someone possessing a relevant job training certification. Workers with a little bit of experience should refresh their memories by attending regular training sessions during the year. They can go over simple notions or learn what to do in the case of incidents. 

Spider lifts are commonly used on construction sites helping with everything from transporting heavy materials to lifting workers to areas hard to reach. They are height solutions that work well even on uneven or sloping terrain. Spider lifts achieve this by using stabilisers that allow lifting in all circumstances. Getting back on topic, it’s essential to train employees on how to safely use aerial work platforms. Operators should have a complete understanding of the practices and procedures required to ensure safe and responsible working at height. 

The amount of instruction required depends mainly on previous experience. Therefore, the sessions are adapted so as to fit the needs of the workers. Theory is combined with practical sessions, followed by an examination. If participants succeed in meeting the required standards, they are awarded a certificate of competence and skills awards. Without proper training, operators can be easily injured and even killed. 

Practice accountability for all parties 

Now, you know your responsibilities when it comes to construction site safety. What you don’t know is that everyone has to contribute to safety and they must prove due diligence. Leaders need to be accountable and practice the values of accountability on a daily basis. Safety isn’t just the job of the employer or the main contractor. This translates into the fact that safety is a personal responsibility and that every person on the job site has to look out for their own safety. Employees have to learn about their rights and responsibilities. 

More often than not, workers have a bad attitude toward safety. They refuse to take responsibility for their apathetic approach toward safety and, along the way, encourage others to not take safety seriously. The company isn’t necessarily to blame for unfortunate events. Individuals make choices and they need to take responsibility for them. The most important thing to keep in mind is that workers should respect their own safety – in other words, they have a duty to protect themselves. 

Inspect tools and equipment on a regular basis 

The construction industry relies greatly upon special tools and pieces of equipment to get the job done. The likelihood is that you keep a close eye on the state of your fleet, but its’ still a good idea to get regular inspections. It’s paramount to ensure there are no malfunctions or defects. If the fleet is in tip-top condition, it will handle even the toughest jobs. Fatalities happen all the time. Let’s not even talk about the incidents that lead to damage, delays, bad reputation and so on. You can never be too careful. 

Ensure all the materials and procedures comply with the plan. You need to have documentation of all contractor activities, not to mention thoroughly discuss deviations and non-conformities. Get an independent view of the construction site and make sure that things are progressing slowly. Inspections shouldn’t be limited to the construction phase. They should be an integral part of contract reviews and signing, pre-contract meetings, and, last but not least, client onboarding. If done correctly, they can bring about many advantages for everyone working in the industry.