8 Important Construction Safety Tips to Remember
Construction is a dangerous occupation. Construction sites are full of hazards that can lead to accidents, injuries, and even death. However, construction companies should always be looking for ways to keep their employees safe in order to prevent these tragedies from occurring.
In this post, we'll go over eight important construction safety tips that companies should always implement. Read on to learn more!
1. Check for Any Hazards or Potential Dangers Before You Start Working on Anything
Construction companies should always check the site before they start working on it. Before you begin, walk around the construction site and look for any potential hazards or dangers that your employees may encounter while doing their work.
A few common examples of these are:
- tripping over a hose (can cause someone to fall/injure themselves)
- standing too close to an open trench (potential danger if equipment is running nearby)
- not having enough lighting in dark areas (can lead to accidents if people trip and drop tools into holes/ditches)
Once you identify all of these possible problems, report any issues to the supervisor immediately, whether they are minor or major. Take steps to remedy them so that everyone can work as safely as possible without putting anyone at risk when performing their job duties.
2. Communication Is Key
Respect your fellow workers and always communicate with them. If you are working on projects with other companies (e.g., general contractors) make sure to communicate well so everyone knows exactly what their role is and how it fits into the overall construction process. Labeling your tools can also help prevent mix-ups when partners aren't clearly communicating.
If something seems like it might be dangerous, say something! You never know what they are thinking and if you tell them about the potential problem area then there is a greater chance that everyone will work in an environment where safety isn't compromised.
3. Always Wear the Proper Safety Equipment for Your Job
Construction is inherently dangerous and this becomes even more true when you're not wearing the proper safety equipment. Make sure to wear the best safety vests, gloves, boots that cover your ankles, goggles, and other construction-related safety gear any time you are doing a job where it could be necessary.
4. Be Sure to Follow Any and All Safety Rules
It's important that everyone on the construction site follow all appropriate safety rules. This means putting your safety before anything else, even if it slows you down or gets in the way of meeting a deadline.
It's better to spend an extra hour on work than for anyone involved to get hurt because they didn't use proper protection or took unnecessary risks with their own well-being. The more people who are operating under common guidelines will ultimately be safer as opposed to having multiple sets of standards that may not line up perfectly with one another.
5. Every Construction Job Site Should Have an Emergency Action Plan
On every job site, there should be an emergency action plan posted somewhere prominent so everyone knows what they need to do in case of an emergency or injury. Even if nothing happens on-site, at least the workers know how everything will work just in case another crew needs their help with something similar down the line!
6. Avoid Crowding Work Areas
Backhoe operators will tell you without hesitation that workers crowding the machine and the ground are their biggest headache. Most people enjoy standing by the edge and watching the dirt being moved. Many stand close by and watch out of habit, with no real reason to be there. But why put themselves at risk when there is no need to?
When too many of them are working in a tiny area, there's an increased risk for injury and construction accidents. Additionally, construction equipment can be hard to maneuver when there is not enough room!
People on the ground must stay clear of the machine operating area. Remind your workers of this important point at safety meetings. It is the foremen who must enforce this, not the operators. Foremen should strictly enforce this rule, not the operators.
7. Keep Your Hands Free of Distractions, Such as Phones or Food
Construction safety tips should always include keeping your hands free from distractions like food or phones while you work. It can cause an accident if someone is trying to get up with his phone in one hand and falls because he didn't have both feet planted firmly enough on the ground yet.
Every worksite should have a specific area designated for break time where workers can eat their lunch or go on their phones. This break area should be away from the job site because staff who are not on break should be able to work without worrying about their break buddies holding them up.
8. Keep Your Head Up, Eyes Open, And Ears Attentive To Your Surroundings
Every construction worker needs to be aware of his surroundings at all times. Be on the lookout for any and all dangers that could harm you so that they can be avoided.
One of these examples is keeping your eyes open while carrying heavy loads, especially when walking from one place to another or between floors in a building. If someone has his head down he may trip over an object or miss seeing something stuck in the middle of stairs which will cause him to fall, potentially leading to injury.
Another example would be if construction workers are working with machinery. These workers need to keep their heads up because there might be debris coming toward them unexpectedly causing serious damage like eye injuries or worse yet death by being hit directly in the face area.
Every construction worker needs to be aware of his surroundings at all times as well as keep
Construction Safety Helps Preventing Accidents and Decrease Risk
Construction is a dangerous job. It’s important to take safety precautions and be aware of the risks that come with construction work. These eight tips should help you stay safe on-site, as well as during travel time from site to site.
If you want your employees safe while they're working hard, check out our custom construction safety vests. Your team deserves the best safety vests money can buy. If you're interested in ordering, contact us today and we'll be happy to walk you through the order process.