Construction workers apply their skills each day throughout the world to complete important projects. A major part of ensuring that projects are completed successfully has to do with keeping workers safe at all costs. Statistics from 2015 found that 4,836 workers were tragically killed while working on the job. Considering that, it’s wise to ensure all safety precautions are followed while construction is being completed. With that in mind, here are four essential tips for staying safe while working on a construction site.
- Ensure Workers Have Proper Protective Clothing
One of the best ways to keep workers safe is through the utilization of safety workwear. It’s imperative to ensure that every worker has access to required safety clothing, especially new employees. In fact, the Institute for Work and Health in Canada found that an employee is three times more susceptible to suffering an injury that results in time away from work than other workers. Many construction site managers ensure their workers wear high visibility clothing so that each worker is easily seen at all times. An orange safety vest is commonly worn by people in situations where worker visibility is of the utmost importance. - Be Mindful of Noise Levels
While it’s important to ensure that workers wear the right types of safety clothing, you’ll want to ensure their hearing is also protected. Construction sites are often home to loud machinery operating for multiple hours in a row. The human ear is a sensitive part of the body that shouldn’t be exposed to loud noises without the proper protection. Permanent hearing loss can occur while workers are continually exposed to sounds exceeding 85 decibels. Therefore, it’s imperative to ensure that construction workers have access to earplugs or similar devices made to shield the ears from prolonged exposure to loud noises. - Have Emergency Escape Routes Prepared
In many situations, construction sites house both chemicals and heavy machinery. It’s important to be prepared in the case that a fire erupts while construction is taking place. In the event of a fire, it’s wise to have emergency escape routes prepared in advance. The last thing you want is for workers to scramble in all different directions looking for a proper exit. Having workers fitted with safety gear including orange safety vests makes them much easier to track after each person has escaped a dangerous situation. - Keep First Aid Kits Handy
A key element of reducing the damage caused by an unfortunate injury can be minimized by having a first aid kit readily available. Not only that, first aid kits allows for fast medical treatment in areas where a hospital isn’t always nearby. It’s wise to ensure that multiple first aid kits are always on hand, if at all possible.
In closing, there are several important safety tips to follow while managing a construction site. It’s imperative to ensure workers are always wearing proper safety attire. Items including orange safety vests and other high visibility material are often utilized while construction work is being performed. Construction sites are known to be noisy locations, making it important to keep workers ears protected with the use of earplugs. In the event something does go wrong, you’ll want to have emergency escape routes planned before any construction work begins. Lastly, it’s best to keep first aid kits available on a construction site to protect workers from more minor injuries including burns, scrapes, and cuts.
