How To Prevent Injury On A Construction Site

Safety is of paramount importance for any business, but particularly construction firms. After all, the average construction site is full of dangers. It is a place where dozens of individuals must gather to navigate hazardous machinery, heights, vehicles, and so much more, all while performing their job to a high standard. This productivity is only achievable if all the relevant health and safety procedures are in place.

A good construction manager will have been trained to prevent injury in the workplace; however, there may be other dangers that you may not be aware of. As such, this article will look at all of the ways you can prevent injury on a construction site, some of which may take you by surprise.

Encourage Breaks

Construction is not an easy job, and many people that work in this field can experience fatigue from time to time. While it is natural to feel tired in the workplace, it can prove quite dangerous on a construction site. In fact, almost two-thirds of construction workers admit to working while feeling fatigued. A tired body will not react the same way, which means that these workers are more susceptible to injury in this state.

One of the best ways to solve this issue is by allowing your staff to take breaks whenever they feel tired, as well as adhering to the standard mid-day lunch hour break. Ten minutes is enough to allow the muscles to settle and the brain to re-focus, so try to prioritize your employee’s needs and you should see a reduction in careless accidents without losing too much progress.

Manual Handling Training

Construction is a field that is hard on the human body, and it takes a strong individual to carry out the necessary daily tasks without succumbing to injury. One of these tasks is manual handling, the process of lifting or moving heavy materials with your hands. Many construction workers will be able to do this in a safe manner, but it requires the appropriate training.

This training will inform your staff about how to assess whether an object can be lifted, how to approach the tasks, and how best to do so without injuring their back or knees. Since manual handling is such a big part of the job, it is important to train all of your employees in this practice to avoid unnecessary injury.

Weather-Proof Your site

Slips and trips are just as likely to cause injury on a construction site as dangerous materials. Heavy rainfall can change the surface area of your daily walkways, making it easier for your employees to slip over, something that can prove dangerous when carrying heavy loads.

A manager should assess the safety of the construction area before anyone begins work, and you should have the right equipment necessary to prevent these injuries from occurring. For example, a company like Lionweld Kennedy Group can provide you with access solutions such as steel grating. These non-slip surfaces allow your employees to walk freely across wet surfaces without risk of falling, allowing them to perform their jobs normally.

Machinery Inspections

Every construction site employee will have the know-how to properly inspect their machinery before using it. An issue within could pose a danger to anyone in the immediate area, which means that these checks are mandatory for preventing injury.

Unfortunately, there is a lot that can happen to your machinery in a short time. Although you should follow protocols to ensure that construction equipment is safe at the start of the day, it doesn’t hurt to continue to double-check these tools whenever you step away from them. Again, weather conditions can cause unpredictable changes, and you never know who else may have touched the equipment without your knowledge. It never hurts to be cautious, so make sure you are as thorough as you can be when using heavy machinery on a construction site.

Keep Things Clean

It is easy for staff to become complacent toward minor safety issues when they work with severely dangerous equipment all the time. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take a lot to cause an injury in the workplace. An errant piece of scrap material or a tool not put back in its correct place can cause you to trip, and dirty environments can lead to respiratory problems in the future.

These injuries are easily preventable by maintaining a proper cleaning schedule on-site and reiterating the importance of a safe work environment for all employees. Try to clean as you go, and you will that maintaining a clean, safe construction site is achievable without losing progress.

Summary

Health and safety in construction are one of the most important factors in the field, which is why every employee is trained to a level to prevent accidents. However, there are other hazards out there that you will pick up on with experience. Try to make sure you are prepared for these with the right training and equipment.