It is no small surprise that the construction industry is one of the most high-risk fields a person can work within. From the heavy equipment involved in breaking ground to the likelihood of a simple accident having a big impact, there are many angles you must consider when you’re in charge of a site’s safety. Whether you are investing in the right tools like a laser level to ensure the accuracy or your work or communicating with employees about the correct safety procedures, there are many ways to address and reduce the risks of your industry.
Education Is Everything
Perhaps the most important way to address safety around different job sites is by educating yourself and your team on proper protocol. No matter how long you have worked with certain contractors, you can’t simply assume that these individuals are fully aware of the latest safety regulations. As the person in charge, it is your job to make sure you are spreading the correct information and keeping everyone on your staff current when it comes to changes to the standards put forth by organizations like OSHA.
Address Errors in Advance
More often than not, accidents around the workplace can be avoided with a bit of forethought. If you do not have the right tools for the job, for example, you may make significant mistakes. Without a laser level, you might try to use your eyes to assess whether or not a surface is even. This, in turn, can lead to a disastrous situation if the uneven surface causes issues with other areas of the construction project. Avoid this by always bringing all of the required tools and equipment to a job.
Use a System for Falls
One of the more common accidents that occur around a construction site is a fall. Your workers should always be mindful of their surroundings, but there are plenty of scenarios where a person can take a spill that cannot be avoided. Whether falling from a ladder or slipping on an icy or wet spot on the ground, you absolutely need to work out a way of reducing the odds of a fall whenever possible. Take extra steps to reinforce ladders and scaffolding, sweep the site for slippery spots each day, and do what you must to increase safety.
Focus on Awareness
Studies in recent years have revealed that a ton of workplace accidents occur because someone is not paying attention to what he or she is doing. Distractions are everywhere these days, and you absolutely must put an emphasis on the importance of focus with your workers. If you have a contractor who is on his phone all the time when he should be operating equipment, you are looking at the potential of a huge accident on the horizon. Whether you need to hold meetings or put workers through training, an emphasis on focus helps to save lives and reduce accidents.
Small Struggles
Not all risks at a construction site are going to be huge or explosive in nature. In fact, a number of the problems you are likely to face are going to be small in scale. If your workers are doing the same repetitive motions each day, then they may start to develop back or knee problems after time passes. Along with workplace safety, you may wish to talk to your contractors about how they can keep their bodies out of harm’s way. Encourage exercise and other engaging activities that will help reduce long-term health complications.
There are a number of ways to approach making your construction site safer for all who visit. When the time comes to invest in the right supplies like a new laser level, be sure to check out what Engineer Supply has to offer. Grab the right equipment, keep your employees in the know, and encourage a safe and productive environment.
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