It doesn't have to be difficult to give your employees a safe place to work. Every construction company's primary goal should be to safeguard its employees from harm.

Dangers of construction work can be attributed to a number of factors. Conditions on a worksite are continuously changing and as building advances, new dangers and security issues surface. Subcontractors change crews often to do different crafts and due to ongoing labour shortages from the previous recession, there are more less experienced employees lacking the same level of training than the veterans they are replacing working on construction sites. Making a safer worksite is something that can be quickly added to your pre-construction planning process and by taking these actions, you can strengthen the safety culture inside your business.

Develop a Plan

Each project should have a site-specific safety strategy since every jobsite is unique and the safety strategy should be developed as you go through the process of creating your construction schedule.

Safety Strategy steps:

1. Focus on possible risks related to cave-ins ad equipment rollovers

2. Focus on heights, (ex: fall protection, ladder and scaffold safety)

3. Involve your subcontractors in your planning process if your are the project's general

contractor, so they can help you understand what safety issues are most common in

the job they conduct

4. Trade subcontractors should collaborate with the general contractor to offer

suggestions to endure that their employees are adequately safeguarded

TIPS!

- Make sure to base historical data on prior projects that are comparable to the

one you are working on.

- Identify the most effective engineering controls, training, and personal protective

equipment to reduce the risks and eliminate the hazards (PPE).

- Remember to concentrate on each stage or phase of the project and the specific

duties that employees will be expected to do because these will vary as work

proceeds.

Provisional Safety

- Secure job-site to ensure workers have access to the things they need to carry out their

work safely and effectively

- Designate locations close to the site of the work for particular crafts or jobs to store

materials, equipment, first aid supplies and PPE

- Eliminate risks like falls, being struck by things and electrocutions can be achieved in

part by restricting access to specific parts of the workplace.

- Create barricades and cordon off areas to provide as a visual cue to workers about

where they should and shouldn't be working.

Toolbox and Safety Meetings

- Make sure your employees or subcontractors have undergone thorough safety training and have maintained the necessary information before letting them on the worksite

- Hold safety meetings and toolbox presentations to make sure they are aware of the dangers and hazards on the work site

- Set guidelines for what is expected of each employee in terms of safe work practises and appropriate PPE usage

- Engage workers by discussing safe working practises and have each employee check their PPE and tools to make sure everything fits correctly.

Exert Supervision

A safety manager must keep an eye on employees throughout the day and might need a buddy system because the manager can't be everywhere at once, which can help develop a mentorship programme for less experienced employees. The best way is through the use of technology like drones and wearables.

Construction Job Site Safety

Give all employees the authority to halt work if they see a hazard or a safety violation so that it may be addressed and fixed. Encourage employees to speak out if they notice dangerous working conditions or employees not adhering to safe working procedures. Early planning and preparation is a guaranteed strategy to help lower the amount of accident injuries on a project.

For more info about Construction Job Site Safety, contact M7 TAX today!