Construction work can be extremely dangerous. However, many of the hazards associated with this type of occupation can be mitigated by taking certain precautionary measures. Here are some of the ways that site managers can create a safer environment for those working on construction sites.
Prevent falls by implementing safety measures
Falls from a height account for a significant percentage of construction-related injuries and fatalities. As such, one of the most important things site managers can do to protect their workers is to implement safety measures which will reduce the chance of them falling off of scaffolding and ladders.
Scaffolding should only ever be erected by an experienced construction worker and should be inspected regularly for signs of deterioration or disrepair. Guardrails should also be installed, so that if a labourer trips whilst walking on scaffolding, they will be less likely to fall to the ground and injure themselves or others. Additionally, labourers should never be allowed to stand on scaffolding which lacks a stable platform.
A ladder is an essential item on most building sites. However, this piece of equipment also presents a risk to those who use it. Site managers should insist that workers thoroughly inspect ladders before climbing them. If one is found to have unstable rungs or side rails, it should not be used; instead, it should be marked as defective and removed from the working area until it has been repaired.
Before a construction worker climbs a ladder, they should try to make sure that it is secured at both the lower and top ends. In instances where it isn't possible to do this, they should enlist the help of someone else on the site to hold onto the bottom of the ladder, to prevent it from toppling over whilst they are on it. Last but not least, if a worker needs to use electrical machinery whilst standing on this piece of equipment, they should always use one with side railings made from non-conductive materials, to reduce the risk of being electrocuted and falling.
Take great care when using heavy construction equipment
Heavy construction equipment enables workers to carry out a huge range of activities. However, it can also be very dangerous to operate. Whilst most machinery of this kind now has a number of safety features, it still poses a risk to both to those who operate it and to those who happen to be nearby whilst it is in use.
Making sure that only fully trained, experienced professionals operate this machinery is perhaps the most effective way for a site manager to ensure the safety of their workers. An incompetent person attempting to drive a heavy vehicle could end up hitting one of their co-workers or injuring themselves by falling out of or crashing the vehicle. By taking the time to check that the people they hire for this type of work have the relevant forklift, high risk or heavy vehicle licences, site managers can dramatically reduce the chance of on-site injuries and fatalities. For more information, contact companies like All Onsite Training and Assessment.
There are a number of other steps that can be taken to lessen the risks associated with heavy machinery usage. Communication is perhaps one of the most important; those operating equipment of this kind should use hand signalling or two-way radios to make sure that those working on the ground nearby know what actions they are about to take. Additionally, a spotter should be used in instances where the operator will not have direct visual access to an area in which they need to move the equipment.
Share28 November 2016
Heavy construction equipment can be quite expensive to replace, so it's important to maintain it properly. That involves doing some regular maintenance according to the correct service schedules as well as making sure that your operators know how to operate the equipment correctly. If you maintain your equipment, this maintenance can end up saving your business a lot of money down the track when you can extend the usable life of the equipment that you rely on. This blog has some tips on how you can easily maintain heavy construction equipment, including how you can train operates to extend lifecycles with sensible machine operation.