how can i be safe in construction

How to Stay Safe on a Construction Site

• Wear Protective Gear. What you wear to the construction site directly affects your health and safety on the job. ...
• Keep the Site Clean. ...
• Start With Inductions. ...
• Maintain Scaffolding. ...
• Inspect Tools and Equipment. ...
• Conduct Safety Training. ...
• Provide Documentation. ...
• Follow Safety Signs. ...

Full Answer

How to keep construction sites safe?

8 Ways to Keep Construction Sites Safe: 1. Manage and Mitigate Risk with a Safety Training Program Due to the risk inherent in construction work, all employees must be trained and instructed to point out high risk areas for efficient emergency management.

How can we reduce the risk of construction accidents?

Due to the risk inherent in construction work, all employees must be trained and instructed to point out high risk areas for efficient emergency management. While it is impossible to eliminate the risk completely, training programs can educate site workers to conduct regular safety audits.

What is construction safety?

What is Construction Safety? Construction safety is a principle adhered to and enforced by construction safety managers. It is the result of safe equipment usage, worker protection from hazards, regular site inspections and risk assessments. A key component of construction safety is compliance with the safety and health regulations of the region.

How to ensure electrical safety at construction sites?

While it is impossible to eliminate the risk completely, training programs can educate site workers to conduct regular safety audits. This will enable them to assess and address potential risks and greatly minimize the possibility of injuries, thereby ensuring a safe working environment. 2. Ensure Electrical Safety at Construction Sites

How can I be safe in a construction site?

Below are the most important safety tips for construction contractors working in the industry today.Wear the Appropriate Clothing. ... Be Cautious When Lifting. ... Limit Work Area Crowding. ... Consider the Conditions. ... Use Safety Equipment. ... Have a Clean Work Area. ... Get the Right Training. ... Getting on and Off Machinery.More items...•

What is make safe in construction?

Make Safe means to ensure the risk of harm to people or further damage to property is removed and the site/property/asset is secure.

How do you stay safe at jobsite?

Ten Construction Jobsite Safety Tips To Keep In MindBe Cautious In and Around Your Work Zone.Wear Proper Equipment.Avoid Substance Abuse at Construction site.Inspect the Tools Before Using.Avoid Squatting or Kneeling.Communicate.Select the Equipment Which Is Best Suited for Working at Heights.More items...

What ensures the safety of the construction workers?

It's important to provide your employees with the appropriate PPE relative to the type of work being carried out. This can include helmets, ear protection, safety goggles, knee pads and hi-vis jackets. If they become worn or unfit for purpose, they need to be replaced immediately. Make sure they wear them, too!

What are 10 safety rules?

Top 10 General Safety Rules For Kids At School:Safety Rule #1 Know Your Name, Number And Address: ... Safety Rule #2 Do Not Eat Anything Given By A Stranger: ... Safety Rule #3 Do Not Climb The Fence: ... Safety Rule #4 Do Not Walk Off The Yard Alone: ... Safety Rule #5 Playing Or Experimenting With Fire Is Not Allowed:More items...•

What is the first safety rule in construction?

To minimize injuries from such accidents, the workers are required to wear gloves, safety goggles (aka safety glass), knee pads, hard hats, earmuffs, respirators, and vests whenever needed. The protective gears must fit the workers and should be kept clean.

What are some safety tips to remember on the job?

Here are some ways you can work to stay safe on the job.Be Aware. ... Maintain Correct Posture. ... Take Breaks Regularly. ... Use Equipment Properly. ... Locate Emergency Exits. ... Report Safety Concerns. ... Practice Effective Housekeeping. ... Make Use of Mechanical Aids.More items...

What should you not do on a job site?

8 things you should never do at workComplain too much. ... Volunteer all the time. ... Dress inappropriately. ... Talk politics. ... Spread rumors. ... Spend too much time on personal calls, social media, or anything else that isn't work-related. ... Come in contagious. ... Steal your coworkers' food.

What are site safety rules?

Minimum PPE Requirements for Safety at Construction SiteHard Hat or Helmet. Ad. ... Safety Glasses. Safety glasses are required at construction site every time debris is filled in air due to activities on site.Hand Protection Gloves. ... Safety Vests. ... Proper Clothing. ... Hearing Protection. ... Respiratory Protection. ... Face shields.More items...•

Why is construction safety important?

Not only does construction site safety decrease the risk of injuries to the public, but it also reduces the risk of work-related injuries and accidents. OSHA estimates that nearly a quarter of all work-related fatalities occur in the construction industry, and many more injuries that do not lead to death occur as well.

How do you improve health and safety in construction sites?

There are several ways to improve health and safety in your workplace, and it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. We’ve put together 7 essential questions which need to be asked to make sure construction workers are safe at work.

1. Do your employees wear the correct protective gear?

Wearing the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) could mean the difference between a minor injury and a long-term injury or even a fatality.

2. Is scaffolding correctly constructed and maintained?

When erecting scaffolding, there should be no shortcuts or improvisations. It should be built on stable ground with solid footing to eradicate the risk of it collapsing.

3. Do all employees have the right health & safety training?

Construction workers operating in high and medium risk environments are required to have sufficient construction health and safety training. They should be fully competent and aware of the risks associated with their actions, especially when working at height, with machinery or in confined spaces.

4. Are all signs on your site displayed clearly?

Construction sites are full of potential dangers, not just for workers but for the public too. It’s important to highlight any hazards with signs and posters, warning everyone nearby to take precautions.

5. Are your employees making the right use of technology?

In today’s technological world, almost every adult in the UK owns a mobile phone and a majority of these are smartphones.

6. Do you make sure tools and equipment are inspected regularly?

Construction workers rely on their tools to work efficiently and get jobs done. If their tools are unsafe or broken, there are higher risks of serious accidents including the loss of limbs.

How far away from power lines should scaffolding be?

Scaffolding should be erected on solid footing, fully planked and at least 10 feet away from power lines. Scaffolding should be erected with guardrails, midrails, and toeboards to protect employees working on, under, and around scaffolding. 3. Subpart X – Stairways and Ladders – 1926.1053 Ladders.

What are the hazards of excavation?

These hazards include cave-ins, hazardous atmospheres, and electrocutions from hitting utility lines, falls and falling loads, and heavy equipment accidents.

What is required to wear face protection?

OSHA requires that workers be provided with and wear face and eye protection when there are eye or face hazards present from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gasses or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation.

What is the only method approved that actually prevents falls from occurring?

Guardrails are the only method approved that actually prevents falls from occurring. Safety nets and personal fall arrest systems prevent workers from falling a great distance. Fall protection includes protecting workers from falling into holes such as elevator shafts and skylights as well as excavations.

What is head protection?

They protect workers a number of safety hazards such as falling and flying objects, electrical shock and other impacts. Workers: Workers are required to wear head protection wherever there is the potential for being struck in the head , which is basically the entire time you are on the construction site.

What percentage of construction workers work on scaffolds?

Approximately 65% of all construction workers perform work on scaffolds. Employees performing work on and around scaffolding are exposed to falls, electrocutions and falling object hazards. Workers: Hard hats should be worn when working on, under, or around a scaffold.

What is the duty to have fall protection?

Duty to have fall protection is the most cited standard in the construction industry and is one of the leading causes of worker deaths in construction. Employers need to do a better job of assessing job sites and implementing fall protection systems to protect workers.

1. Always wear PPE

All workers and visitors in the construction site should wear the required PPE to reduce exposure to various hazards on the worksite. Common PPEs include goggles, helmets, gloves, ear muffs or plugs, boots, and high visibility vests and suits.

2. Be mindful and follow signs

Safety signs allow management to warn and raise health and safety awareness for employees and visitors. Appropriately place them around the site where necessary. Workers should be familiar with the different signs: prohibition signs, mandatory signs, warning signs, safe condition signs, and fire fighting equipment signs.

3. Provide clear instructions

A site induction or contractor induction should be present on site. This will enable new workers to be familiar with site operations. Toolbox talks are also an effective way of relaying health and safety instructions to the workforce. It is conducted before commencing work on either a daily or more frequent basis.

4. Keep site tidy

Ensure that debris, dust, loose nails, and stagnant water are not just lying around the site. The construction site must be cleaned daily and remain clutter-free to prevent slips and trips.

5. Organize and store tools properly

Ensure that no tools are lying around, and leave lights and power tools unplugged. Doing so will prevent tools from getting damaged or even causing injury to workers. Organizing them in their rightful place will also allow for easy navigation.

6. Use the right equipment for the right task

Often, accidents occur due to the misuse of a tool or equipment. Avoid using makeshift tools. Instead, use the correct tool to get the job done quicker and safer.

7. Have an emergency response plan

An emergency response plan directs the workforce on what to do when emergencies like natural disasters, fire, hazardous material spills, or other types of incidents occur. Have a dedicated team responsible for managing emergency crises, answering questions, and reporting potential hazards, quality issues, or near misses.

What are the hazards of construction?

Safety hazards lurk around every corner. This is evident by the high rate of occupational fatalities and injuries that occur each year in construction. Falls, electrocutions, heavy equipment rollovers, and collapsing scaffolding are just a small number of ways workers can be seriously injured or killed on a construction site.

How to help your safety manager?

Assemble a safety team or committee to help your safety manager oversee and review safety performance. The team should include a mix of executive, managerial, operational, and craft labor staff. This helps reinforce the fact that safety is the responsibility of every employee.

How to stress the importance of safety?

To stress the importance of safety, talk about it every day. These don’t have to be long and overcomplicated. Before the start of each shift, review the work being done that day and discuss the hazards involved and the safety measures and controls in place.

Why should scaffolding be inspected?

Scaffolding and ladders should be inspected to confirm they are in good working order and safe to use. The site should be clean and well-kept to avoid workers tripping over misplaced tools and discarded materials. As construction progresses, the safety manager and safety committee should evaluate the safety plan.

Why is construction planning important?

Construction planning is a vital task in successfully managing a project to completion. It requires determining the resources needed and scheduling the work based on the order and duration it will take to complete individual tasks.

Should everyone on a construction site be comfortable speaking up?

Everyone on the construction site, regardless of whether their position is safety manager or construction laborer, should have the ability to order work stopped if they feel there is a safety issue that needs to be addressed.

Is safety a priority in construction?

Safety should be the top priority for all construction companies. Getting all employees to buy-in to your safety culture requires a top-down approach. “Safety First” can’t just be lip service delivered to workers from the higher-ups. A commitment to safety must be incorporated as one of the core principles of your company’s culture.

Why should construction sites be limited?

Construction site access should be limited to ensure protection of heavy equipment and machinery from theft and damage. The safety of pedestrians from potential hazards of a construction site requires strict supervision while the work is on. Only authorized visitors should be allowed on site and strict safety protocols should be enforced ...

Why do construction workers need to be trained?

Due to the risk inherent in construction work, all employees must be trained and instructed to point out high risk areas for efficient emergency management. While it is impossible to eliminate the risk completely, training programs can educate site workers to conduct regular safety audits.

What is the responsibility of an employer in a construction site?

Every employer is responsible for safeguarding the health and safety of their staff irrespective of the industry and the nature of work being performed. In case of construction workers, they work in a high risk environment that is subject to electrical hazards and the dangers of construction machinery. In fact, according to SafeWork NSW, “around ...

Why are transformers dangerous?

The use of power and electrical transformers on construction sites is particularly hazardous due to the use of flexible extension cords and scattered power cables in damp conditions.

Can construction work be commenced until all the SWMS standards have been met?

Ideally, no construction work can be commenced until all the SWMS standards have been met. 5. Make Sure Chemical Storage Safety Requirements are Strictly Followed. Chemicals can cause pollution, fire, explosion and serious injuries if not stored, handled or used with caution.

When will construction be a health and safety issue?

May 26, 2021. The construction industry poses unique health and safety challenges for its workers. In fact, about one out of every five workplace deaths in calendar year 2019 were construction-related, according to OSHA. Luckily, health and safety processes play a vital role in minimizing risks.

What is the responsibility of every construction company to foster and nurture a safety culture?

Implementing a successful safety program involves more than creating an employee handbook. It is the responsibility of every construction company to foster and nurture a safety culture. One of the most important things that leadership can bring about is widespread cultural change around the topic of safety.

Why are there barriers to safety culture?

There are many reasons why employees may not buy-in to a safety culture, including: Employees may be unaware of the safety hazards they face and thus less receptive to the changes required to avoid them. Rapid organizational growth and lack of emphasis on safety practices.

When was the safety culture first used?

The term safety culture was first used by the International Atomic Energy Agency in its 1986 Chernobyl accident summary report to describe how the thinking and behaviors of people in the nuclear plant contributed to the accident.

Should safety managers be hired?

Safety managers should be hired not only on their degrees, but also on their experience in construction, their ability to relate to employees and the demands of the job. Ropel also points to the importance of leadership being seen as a safety resource.

Establish A Safety Culture

Create A Site-Specific Safety Plan

Training

Empower Workers to Speak Up & Hold Each Other Accountable

Conduct Daily Safety Meetings

Inspect, Evaluate, and Adjust

• Construction sites should be inspected before and after each workday. Equipment and tools should be inspected to ensure all guards and safety controls are in place. Scaffolding and ladders should be inspected to confirm they are in good working order and safe to use. The site should be clean and well-kept to avoid workers tripping over misplaced to...

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