As an employer or manager of a construction project, you are responsible for the safety of your employees. Unfortunately, several accidents happen on construction sites yearly, leaving many workers injured, disabled, or even dead. Workplace safety is essential to prevent these things from happening. Below are safety measures that can make the construction site safer for everyone, including employees and visitors.
Provide safety training
Before starting any project, brief everyone who will take part in it on safety measures in the workplace, regardless if they are newbies or if they have been in the industry for a long time. Everyone should be aware of the safety protocols to follow on-site. Consider hiring employees with CSCS cards. Construction Skills Certification Scheme is a not-for-profit company that offers skills certification in the UK construction field. The government does not require it, but many construction companies look for it to ensure employees are adequately trained.
Keep the site clean and clear of obstacles
Dirt and debris could pile up on the construction site, which may cause accidents. Moreover, it slows down the job as employees cannot move efficiently with obstacles. Clean up by the end of the day so it will be clear the next day. Ensure proper disposal to prevent environmental and safety hazards. Hire a large skip for the waste you need to dispose of, like the ones offered at www.aasvogel.co.uk. They have skips that are ideal for construction sites. Plus, they will conveniently drop off, pick up the skip, and take care of the recycling and disposal of the trash.
Limit access to authorised individuals
Only those who need to work in a particular area should be able to access it to limit the crowd. Unnecessary traffic could add to the chaos and affect the workers’ focus. Moreover, they could get hurt, which could have been prevented if they were not there in the first place.
Provide employees with personal protective equipment
Your employees should wear personal protective equipment, depending on the safety risks. Examples are hard hats or helmets, safety shoes, reflected vests, face and eyes protection, gloves, hearing protection, and safety harness. Ensure they wear them correctly before they start working.
Inform employees what to do in case of emergency
There should be a clear plan on what workers must do in an emergency, like severe weather and other disasters, and they should be aware of it. Have first aid kits ready and safety officers to take care of the employees immediately in case of an accident.
Use highly visible signage
Signage is essential in a construction site for everyone’s awareness of important matters. For example, entry to a particular area or room may not be permitted due to hazards, or containers may contain toxic chemicals, so they must remain closed. Other signage to add includes fire exits and emergency numbers to call, like hospitals and fire stations.
Keep the safety of your employees a priority on the construction site. Accidents will be costly and could also delay the project as you will not have enough workforce to complete it.