Working on a construction site can be dangerous at times and there are many hazards to be aware of. Often, accidents are avoidable, but sometimes a personal injury can occur even when safety regulations are followed to a T. It is helpful to be aware of what steps you can take to prevent accidents and injuries from occurring onsite – read on to find out more.
What You Can Do On a Personal Level
First, it is helpful to look at what you can do on a personal level to prevent injuries. This will involve being aware of the threats at all times and wearing the appropriate PPE at the right times. This might include a hardhat, goggles, steel-capped shoes, protective gloves and ear defenders.
Being Aware of the Risks
You must also make sure that you and the team are aware of all of the risks. A risk assessment before commencing work is key for this and you can then use staff training as a way to make sure that everyone knows how they can carry out their role safely. Training is essential for keeping the workplace safe and should keep accidents to a minimum.
Tool Maintenance
Often, accidents happen not due to staff but because the tools are faulty. This is why it is important that every tool is inspected prior to use and that regular maintenance is carried out to keep the tool in the best condition. If there are any issues, they should be raised immediately so that the employer can repair or replace the tool.
Handle Heavy Material Properly
There can be a lot of heavy lifting involved in construction, which can be hazardous. This is why it is important that staff are trained on how to handle heavy material properly and safely. You must also make sure that people never try and lift too much by themselves and that there is always someone available to help with heavy lifting. Staff should also avoid overdoing it with heavy lifting and take regular breaks.
Participate in Safety Meetings
Safety meetings should be held regularly to notify staff of important safety information and to make health and safety a part of the culture. You should be participating in these to keep up to date with the latest information and to highlight any concerns or near misses that you have experienced.
Hopefully, this post will help you to stay safe and avoid any kind of injury or accident while working on a construction site.