7 Ways to Keep Construction Sites Safe for Workers

Construction workers have one of the most precarious jobs in the world. In fact, according to an HSE report for 2019-2021, over 70,000 workers suffer from work-related ill-health and injuries each year. Besides being prone to falls, construction workers are also more likely to get injured in a nail gun accident, broken bones, or getting hit by falling objects. Cases like these can land any construction company — large or small — in seriously hot water.

It’s the construction company’s job to ensure the safety of its workers during a project. Teaching proper construction safety techniques to workers is a great way to mitigate accidents and injuries. In this article, we take a look at the top seven (7) ways to keep construction sites safe for workers. However, if you wish to expand what you learn from our article today, you can read more on this page.

1. Require workers to wear PPE at all times.

Not only are construction workers exposed to a variety of dangerous objects and equipment, but they also often use chemicals that could potentially be harmful to their health. PPEs are every construction worker’s last line of defense on site. To keep everyone safe and secure, requiring workers to constantly wear their PPEs is key.

Furthermore, make sure to conduct regular inspections of worker PPEs. This will help determine damages on the PPE that could potentially render it useless against accidents and other risky situations.

2. Keep construction sites clean.

Trips and falls cause 30% of all recorded injuries and fatalities in construction sites, according to HSE statistics. While it’s normal for construction sites to become messy and disorganized at times, it’s important to have a system that allows workers to do their job safely in a tidy environment.

Remind your workers to keep their work areas clean while they work. Emphasize its importance to a safe and accident-free workplace. Furthermore, have a designated area where workers can store equipment and tools after shift. That way, nothing is left on the floors or beams that could potentially cause an accident.

3. Start work with an induction

Site-specific inductions are important to the safety and security of everyone involved in a project. It’s a great way to introduce everyone to the possible dangers and risks within your specific site environment.

Site inductions are also a legal requirement, so it’s important for construction companies to have them. Otherwise, you’ll be racking up issues with compliance — and that’s never a good thing.

4. Put up safety signs and follow them.

All areas throughout your construction site should contain safety signs that help ensure worker safety. These signs should be carefully explained during site induction. It’s a construction manager’s job to make sure that all this is taken care of in an orderly and efficient manner.

Construction safety signs are a great way to remind workers of safe practices during work. Any failure to follow should have corresponding consequences. This should encourage your workers to walk a straight line while on duty.

5. Regularly assess equipment for damages.

It’s normal for construction site machinery and equipment to face small issues along the way. A great way to prevent these damages from escalating or ever happening is through regular checkups and assessments.

Checkups help managers and workers identify damages before they become a threat to everyone’s health.

Encourage your workers to report damages or issues as soon as they happen. Furthermore, warn them against tampering with equipment, unless they’ve been specifically licensed to do so.

6. Teach workers the right way to use the equipment.

Yet another step to include in your site induction is teaching workers how to use construction equipment properly. While most workers would already have prior knowledge of what certain equipment do, you can never be too careful when it comes to worker safety.

Provide your workers with everything they need — manuals, guides, and video tutorials — to ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to equipment.

7. Stay informed.

Construction site safety is an ever-changing landscape. It’s important for managers to stay up to speed with the latest news and trends to safety. That way, they can quickly adjust their efforts in a way that would provide their workers with the most protection. Furthermore, this also ensures companies of their compliance with regulations. One good way to stay in the loop is by joining construction site safety seminars, talks, and courses.

In summary

Construction site safety should be at the forefront of every construction project. Apart from getting the project done on time, making sure that everyone is protected and secure at all times is also essential. The top seven ways to keep construction sites safe for workers should be able to help managers and business owners improve their construction safety protocols. Make time to read over them and incorporate them into your operations.