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Construction sites are dangerous places, and everyone’s safety needs to develop rules and regulations. By putting safety rules and regulations into place and enforcing them, you set your company up for success.
✓ Running a construction project will require many safety protocols. Here are the top five safety rules for construction sites to get you started.
5 Safety Rules On Construction Sites
1. Personal Protective Equipment
✓ Personal protective equipment (PPE) must be a top priority on your job site. The required PPE is different for every job, but it generally includes hard hats, safety glasses, high-visibility clothing, work gloves, steel-toe boots, and hearing protection. In addition, special PPE is required when employees are working with hazardous materials.
✓ Provide adequate training on the importance of PPE and how to use it, and ensure that your employees are aware of the hazards inherent in their jobs. Having rules about PPE is only useful if your workers are following them.
✓ As a construction site manager, you can set a good example by strictly adhering to your PPE policies and developing a safety culture by building trust and respect with your employees.
2. Clean Work Spaces
✓ Falls are the leading cause of injuries on worksites. Reducing the number of falls on your construction site can be achieved by eliminating tripping hazards with strict rules and regulations about clean workspaces.
✓ Clutter is dangerous on a construction site, and it can also reduce the efficiency of your employees. Instead, create protocols to develop regular cleaning routines, giving workers time to keep the job site clean and tidy throughout the day.
✓ You should designate where to store tools, materials, and waste products. Then, provide your employees with equipment that makes it easy to keep their workplaces clean. For example, a nifty piece of machinery that comes in handy on any construction site are the self dumping hoppers. They can store, dump, and be used to transport waste materials without extra handling.
Self-dumping hoppers come in various sizes and styles, including ones that roll underneath a workbench, making cleanup effortless.
3. Reporting
✓ Most injuries and accidents should be reported as soon as they occur. Verify that your workers understand reporting procedures and know when they need to report accidents. With proper training, employees can understand the importance of reporting and how it affects them and the company.
✓ When employees are invested in safety, they are more likely to report safety issues. Schedule all of your workers to participate in regular safety audits and create online reporting systems that make reporting easy.
✓ Consider adding a safety officer to your team. If your company isn’t big enough to make it a full-time position, put one of your supervisors in charge of safety. Give them time in their schedule to address safety issues and ascertain that safety protocols are being followed.
✓ Having a designated safety officer will help your workers understand where to report safety issues, accidents, and injuries, and the safety officer can follow up on them. Again, give them time in their schedule to address safety issues and ascertain that safety protocols are being followed.
4. Restrict Employee Numbers in Work Zones
✓ Construction sites are busy places with a lot of activity. Limiting the number of employees in a work zone is essential for safety and efficiency. There is an increased risk when too many people are in a small work area, and workers need to be more productive.
✓ When crowd sizes get too big on a construction site, it makes it hard for workers to move around, leading to accidents and injuries of all kinds. In addition, supervision is more challenging with large groups of workers due to the chaos and confusion.
✓ Construction sites are noisy even with small numbers of workers, and everyone must remain alert. Establish a maximum capacity of workers allowed in a construction zone, and put up signs that clearly state the policy. Avoid additional risk by keeping unauthorized persons out of your building zone.
5. Workplace Substance Abuse
✓ Working on a construction site requires full concentration and alertness. As such, workers mustn’t operate any tools or equipment while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
✓ Many people don’t realize how prevalent workplace drug and alcohol abuse is, and the cost of substance abuse in the workplace is staggering.
According to the National Clearinghouse for Drug and Alcohol Information (NCDAI), the annual cost of workplace substance abuse to businesses is over $100 billion. Some people estimate that the combined costs of substance abuse are four times that amount.
✓ In the construction industry, staying sober and alert is a matter of life and death. Workers using drugs and alcohol have a higher incidence of absenteeism and tardiness, perform poorly due to hangovers, and get distracted trying to obtain drugs and alcohol. Theft is another problem with substance abusers.
✓ Combatting workplace substance abuse is challenging but starts with strict rules and regulations. You must address workplace drug and alcohol abuse to ensure a safe construction site. Establish clear policies and learn to recognize the signs of drug and alcohol use.
Working Towards a Safe Construction Site
✓ Safe construction sites are essential for employees’ well-being and your construction company’s success. By developing safe practices, providing the right equipment, and addressing problems on your construction site, you protect your employees’ lives and your company’s future.
