According to the EHS Today Magazine, approximately 500 workers were killed in the construction industry in 2012. While this number represents one of the lowest casualty rates since 2002, it underscores the critical need for safety on every construction site. By understanding the importance of safety and following good safety procedures, construction workers can do their part to prevent injuries and deaths on the worksite.
Good worksite safety habits are important to your company and your workers.
Watch When Backing Up
ContractorTalk.com reminds us that backing up on a construction site can be one of the most dangerous activities a worker can do. Whether it is walking or in a vehicle, ignoring safety while backing up can result in serious injuries and significant equipment damage. Whenever a vehicle operator has to back up, they should take every precaution to watch behind them for other workers or vehicle. When a worker backs up on foot, they should watch for obstructions, tripping hazards, holes, or any other hazard that can be present.
Exiting Equipment
There are many ways in which construction equipment differs from the family car. In many cases, construction vehicles are several feet off the ground, and the way you enter and exit a construction vehicle can be very different than a standard road vehicle. Workers should pay close attention to what they are doing when exiting a construction vehicle or large piece of equipment, and they should maintain that focus until they are safely out of the vehicle.
Practice Good Worksite Communication
According to Credibly.com, good communication on the worksite can go a long way towards preventing accidents. This means posting warning signs in appropriate areas, and training employees to always read and mind those signs. Good communication is part of coordinating deliveries to prevent injuries involving delivery trucks and worksite personnel, and making sure that any new hazard that is found is immediately relayed to supervisors so they can warn their personnel to stay clear.
Make safety a priority on all of your job sites.
Be Vigilant About Ladders
Sometimes the simplest pieces of equipment can become the most significant sources of hazards. If you go to any worksite, you will find ladders. They are used for creating a pathway to higher places, as materials tables, and as bridges over wide gaps in the ground. If a ladder fails, then it could result in a series of serious injuries. Before you use any ladder, make sure it does not show any outward signs of instability. If you step on a ladder and it does not feel safe, then get a new ladder and point the defective ladder out to your supervisor. Most importantly, never use a ladder for a function which it is not designed for.
A construction site is an active and busy place. As long as the proper safety rules are followed, a construction worksite can also be a productive place. But a construction site where safety is not a priority can be a haven for injuries, and possibly even fatalities. To keep every worker on your job site safe, be sure to go to PDH Contractors and start a course on the safety topics that apply to your niche in the construction world. With the help of the experts at PDH Contractors, you can make your worksite a safer place for everyone.