Construction workers are more likely to be injured while on the job.
There safety shouldn’t be taken lightly. As a safety manager you have to super vigilant and proactive with the safety measures.
One thing you must realize as well is that the hazards you face in construction are varied, as no two sites are the same. These construction site safety tips are a great starting point.
Lets get started!
1. Be Prepared for Weather Conditions
Construction sites have conditions that can vary drastically depending on the area you are in and what time of year it is.
You should be prepared to wear gloves, steel-toed boots, waterproof clothing, and rain gear if it rains. Being prepared will help reduce your chances of being injured at work.
2. Wear Safety Equipment
While this advice may seem like an obvious one, many construction workers find themselves with open wounds or other injuries as a result of not wearing protective gear such as goggles to shield them from dust or safety helmets to protect their head from falling objects.
Wearing safety equipment will make you aware of what’s happening around you so you can avoid potential hazards and stay safe while on the job.
3. Watch Out for Power Lines
While you are on the construction site, don’t make any sudden movements that could knock down power lines or cause them to fall.
If there are downed wires, watch out and do not touch them!
Keep others away from fallen power lines as well; they can still shock you even if they aren’t live. Stay away from electrical equipment until an electrician has given it approval to be turned back on again.
4. Drive Carefully Near Construction Sites
Because of all the people working around a construction site, there is usually more activity going on near work zones than anywhere else nearby.
This activity can include cars parked behind cones and moving in and out of traffic lanes due to workers or emergency vehicles. As a driver, you should watch for workers in the road and be aware of where they are at all times during your commute.
5. Watch Out for Rebar and Concrete
Construction sites often have rebar steel rods and concrete blocks around that are stacked up near the site or being transported on machinery to another location.
Steel bars can poke out from piles if not properly placed, so when working near them, make sure you wear adequate protective clothing such as goggles to protect your eyes while working with it in case any sticks out towards you unexpectedly because of shifting material or construction equipment hitting one of them accidentally.
Likewise, concrete blocks can easily fall off trucks if they aren’t loaded correctly because of improper stacking by loaders working at the site.
6. Wear Protective Clothing
Construction workers wear protective clothing such as boots, steel-toed shoes, gloves, and safety helmets for a reason: to protect their body while on the job site.
These items help shield you from sharp objects that can cut or poke through your skin, falling objects that could break or crush your bones and skulls, chemical exposure if working around materials like paint or gas that could burn your skin, severe weather conditions that can chill you to the bone (like rain), and more.
Make sure you are equipped with proper personal protective equipment in order to stay safe on the job site!
7. Stay Clear of Moving Vehicles
Do not stand in front of moving vehicles as they will not be to able to stop in time if they need to. If you are working near a roadway, make sure you move out of the way before workers start moving heavy materials and machinery through it.
8. Pay Attention
You shouldn’t be looking at your phone or listening to music while on the job site; be aware of what’s going on around you so that you can avoid injuries from tripping and falling over debris left by other workers or improperly placed holes for a floor, etc.
9. Watch Out for Falls
Construction sites are high places with many hazards involved, whether at the top of a building hundreds of feet in the air where scaffolding could shake loose with your body weight on it or at ground level where you could trip over uneven terrain.
Or uneven surface structures like stairs. Be mindful of your surroundings and take extra care when walking around so that you don’t fall and sustain serious injuries.
10. Protect Your Valuables
While you should always keep important things like your wallet on you while working in case of an emergency, protect anything else that could get stolen by securing it away from prying eyes.
Keep expensive tools locked up in a secure place, or at least use a lock to secure it to something immovable to prevent someone with bad intentions (either another worker looking for some quick cash or even just poor unassuming people who find the item) from stealing them out of the back of either your car or truck.