5 Construction Safety Tips You Need to Know
Construction is one of the most common industries to work in, and staying safe is simpler than most people think. In 2018, nearly 7 million people were reported working in construction or in construction-related fields. With this great of a number of people in the industry, information to ensure safety is endless.
Are you using the proper construction safety equipment and gear? Safety has to be a top priority for any company or employee but especially within construction. In this guide, you'll find safety tips and recommendations you need to know.
1. Understand the Potential Hazards
Understanding the potential hazards will help you minimize any danger in the field. The best construction safety equipment promotes preventive measures like critical thinking and proper planning. Regardless of your professional level, you need to be safe in your environment at all times.
Make a checklist of what you plan on being exposed to at work. That could include different key hazards, trench cave-ins, or other hazardous materials. You should also take note of what controls you have in place to lessen the chance of exposure.
Thinking about your daily tasks and projects before starting the day makes a big difference. It'll help you identify any hazards before problems begin. You can also reduce the risk of injury or illness at work by learning as much about your environment as possible.
2. Always Have Essential Safety Equipment
If you want the most construction safety, then you want to have proper safety equipment. When working in the construction industry, it's important to have effective, protective equipment (PPE). It's imperative that craft professionals wear or use PPE to minimize hazards in the workplace.
For added safety while working construction, ensure that your equipment is being worn correctly. Your equipment should be specific to your job, so consider investing in quality, craft-specific PPE. Specialty gloves for welding or concrete work, for example, may save you from a lot of issues down the queue.
OSHA also breaks PPE into five categories to better organize your needs on a worksite. There's lifting heavy equipment, protection against falling debris, falling objects, or any other danger that may be present in the field. You can find safety goggles, hard hats, hand protection, and plenty more to better protect you at work.
3. Trust In Your Safety Manager
Construction safety is not just about yourself; it's also about the people surrounding you. In many cases, it's your safety manager who is most "in charge" of the safety at the worksite. Projects may require different craft professionals so these managers can solely focus on managing safety for the entire site.
A good safety manager will oversee all safety fundamentals, such as training staff or frequent inspections. They should be dedicated to protecting others and preventing danger from occurring. They should be equipped to identify any hazards and understand any regulations.
You want to trust the role of the safety manager, so ensure that you are always aligned with them (or with others). Keep all of your employees or coworkers informed about the latest protection measures. And keep in mind that there's always a chance for the unexpected, so it's better to be safe than to be sorry!
4. Remain Safety Training
Anyone working in construction needs official safety training before starting any job. This is especially the case when health or safety risks are involved. Companies should have ongoing training to keep information refreshed and frequently updated.
It may be difficult for new hires to navigate through safety precautions since not all training programs are the same. Someone could have had an apprenticeship from a previous employer that doesn't cover everything. Therefore, you should always review all safety procedures to ensure that every craft professional can safely operate the equipment.
Continuous construction safety training can include learning programs and monthly lunches or attending a safety excellence certification course. It may also include holding safety training sessions specific to your specialty. Just be sure to create an environment that continuously strengthens the workers' skills and embraces effective safety while working construction.
5. Invest in Mobile Technology
Mobile technology allows you to communicate at a faster speed and with much more detail. Nearly everyone has access to information via smartphone, so why not use it as a tool to protect yourself at work? Not only does this keep you alert of what's happening on a site, but it also allows you to keep others alert.
With the use of camera and video tools, you can share any workplace hazards or alert safety departments. You could also actively mitigate any job site hazards as well. Simply sending a text or making a quick phone call could be the most effective thing you do when something hazardous happens at work.
From specialized apps to keep a digital copy of safety procedures, construction safety can very. The key is sending daily safety reminders and staying on top of the activity for the day. This could help maintain a safer environment just by sharing real-time updates.
The Bottom Line on Construction Safety
Believing that construction is unsafe and unfit for workers is a common misconception. Thankfully, more and more companies are prioritizing sharing information on construction safety and the best ways to promote it. Prevention is key to solving any hazardous issues at work, and following our tips should help!
To learn more about protection measures but within the construction and elsewhere, check out our blog! & If you have questions about our products, feel free to send us an enquiry online. We look forward to connecting with you soon.
