9 Best Safety Practices in the Construction Industry
The construction industry faces different forms of challenges every day. From the dynamic spheres in the construction business market to the fluctuating prices of construction materials, the sector experiences various sorts of changes. But besides these happenings, the imminent dangers in the construction site—faulty excavations, possible electrocutions, falling debris—continue to hound construction projects. The tremendous height and massiveness of structures may look exciting to onlookers and passersby. But, the dedication spent on the formation of the building takes the force of a hundred people or more. The effort, time, and energy placed in creating the edifice count many months, resources, and expenses. Unfortunately, such plans and projects come with hazards and uncertainties.
9 Best Safety Practices in the Construction Industry
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), at the very least, one in ten construction workers encounter injuries while on duty every year. In approximation, the cost of shouldering the expenses of the injured worker amounts to thousands of dollars.With that, contractors and clients have a construction safety plan to accommodate the possibilities of problems in the construction site. Moreover, they also include a safety budget plan that allocates a certain amount of money for plausible accidents on the site. In retrospect, the construction industry uses different safety practices to ensure the workers that they are the priority of the owner and contractor. This article discusses the importance of safety methods in a construction site and the best practices that every project manager should include in the project plan.
Safety Training
Before going into battle, soldiers have to arm themselves with the right tool and knowledge. Similar to that, construction workers going into the construction site should have sufficient information about the safety methods approved in the vicinity. Thus, they should be aware of the standard safety and security practices provided by OSHA. To make sure that the construction workers recognize the importance of safety measures in the workplace, the project leaders have to allot time for on-site safety training seminars and forums. This opportunity is also specifically for new hires who are new to the nature of the construction site. For experienced workers, the training enhances their capabilities and refreshes their minds. Such training can be about the correct tying of ropes or the proper use of harnesses. The goal of the training is improving the knowledge of the workers and lessening accidents on the site.
Furthermore, the laborers should receive flyers and pamphlets regarding the safety practices in the area. The contractor and owner can formulate a construction safety management plan to align the training sessions for the employees. The plan can also be about the safety plans in case of emergencies in the construction site. And they can utilize a safety inspection checklist to determine the security of the place.
Hazards Control
From the pieces of machinery on the ground to the enormous and slow-moving cranes suspended on air, a construction site has a surplus of dangerous items that could be hazardous to humans when misused. Despite their usefulness on the processes in the construction site, these large materials can be risky for the safety of the people around them. Through safety swot analysis and risk management plans, the contractors and clients can come up with methods to make the construction site safer for the workers and even stakeholders. And to accomplish this, the management needs to identify the possible hazards in the area and create a control plan to avoid mishandling the material.
Risks such as collapsing walls and trenches, faulty wiring, and unstable ladders and stairs can cause damage not only to the building but can also harm the people working on the structure. In controlling the plausible hazard, the management has to draw up feasible plans that include double-checking the walls and bearings, asking the assistance of electricians, and securing the tools in the construction site. The method may look simple, but it can save the lives of the people working in the location. As a whole, the control of hazards comes down to the ability of the management to figure out the setbacks and making up for it.
Awareness
As most people say, knowledge is one of the key factors that affect the decisions of human beings. Without a prior understanding of the situation, the person in between will find the circumstance challenging to comprehend. In the construction sector, workers who are risking their lives and time to complete the required work need to acknowledge the weight of their work—they are facing higher risks in the workplace every day. With that, it’s essential to note that when management hires an uninformed worker, it poses more problems than the possibility of falling cement. Ignorant workers, or those new hires that accepted the job without recognizing the perils that come with it, can cause trouble, especially if they’re prone to making mistakes. Awareness is crucial in the construction site. And before anyone can set foot in the construction area, they should understand the work.
The construction managers have the task of informing the new hires about the policies and construction safety programs created by the company for them. The project manager also has to discuss general fire safety rules to the workers to educate them on how to appropriately react when this kind of problem occurs on the site. Safety signs should be on walls and suitable areas in the workplace.
Better Communication
Every business meets complications daily. To fix these problems, companies have to develop plans and strategies to settle them. More than ever, running a business demands time, patience, and a whole lot of useful communication tools. Indeed, communication is essential in organizing schedules, plans, and activities. For construction projects, having proper means of communication proves to be effective in addressing the concerns of workers and giving instructions. Through communicating the goals and expectations of the contractors and owners, the workers can also set objectives for themselves. Also, a direct discussion of the current plans for the project will help in the flow of work for the workers. Thus, eliminating the tendencies of repeated instructions and incomprehensible relaying of messages that could disrupt the workflow and cause safety issues as well.
In keeping people informed, construction companies use different forms of devices for better communication. The engineers and contractors have walkie-talkies or headsets to communicate with each other to give instructions or updates. On the other hand, the leaders disseminate the details and follow-up directions to the workers. Sometimes, a smartphone is also an efficient communication tool to use in the construction site, especially if the area has excellent reception. If the location is slightly remote, other materials are available for the convenience of the officers. Safety daily reports and site safety reports are easier to write when the heads have a better grasp of the status with the help of other members of the team.
Proper Equipment
Construction projects need heavy pieces of machinery and several kinds of equipment to continue the work. It’s physically impossible for construction workers to move steel bars from one area to another without these instruments. Now, the responsibility of contractors and owners is providing proper equipment to the workers. Without well-maintained and suitable construction tools, there will be disruptions on the daily operations of the construction site. These delays are additional costs for the project budget and prolonging the timeframe of the plans. When the instruments are questionable, the chances of workers getting hurt goes higher. So, it is indispensable that the planners select reliable suppliers.
Besides the heavy tools, it’s essential to point out that construction workers also require a decent set of equipment for their protection—gloves, gears, uniforms, helmets. These simple materials matter as fatal errors can happen on the site. If the company cannot provide functional and adequate tools, it would be a problem later on. Moreover, project heads must find ways to distribute sufficient water always to hydrate the workers. Once laborers have the items at their disposal, the contractors still have to remind the workers about their responsibilities. Site safety posters about the use of the materials, as well as equipment posters, should be within the vicinity of the construction site.
Supervision
Despite different precautionary measures undertaken by the contractors and planners, problems can still happen in the construction site. Accidents caused by fallen debris or slippery areas are some foreseen headaches that workers experience while in the location. Aside from making project safety management plans for the protection of everyone in the site, the leaders also keep track of the performance of the laborers. By that, construction companies must hire a strong-willed and skilled supervisor to oversee the processes in the construction site. They have the responsibility to enforce the standards created by the company and owner to guarantee the safety of the people and the continued flow of work. Having a supervisor on the site—except for the engineers, architects, and planners—organizes the activities and gives restrictions to avert dilemmas in the site. By checking the work performance of laborers and even subcontractors, supervisors can determine the lapses and safety issues. With a supervisor in the area, the operations in the construction site will follow a well-arranged path based on the site safety precautions laid out by the planners.
Have a Fall Protection System
Nowadays, most construction projects, particularly commercial buildings and residential condominiums, have more significant expansion than before. For the most part, the extension of the establishments shows more floors and elevation for the convenience of more tenants in the building. At most, numerous skyscrapers in the city are more than twenty stories and can house hundreds of cars in their built-in parking space. In the creation of these well-elevated structures, the workers face more risks because of height. The chances of falling are higher when the establishment is too high. And with that, construction companies and the project owner should utilize a fall protection system to guarantee the safety of the laborers.
First, the project team has to identify the sources that could cause incidents in the construction area. The most common kinds of stressors are uneven terrain on the ground or the building floor, long cables or wires, and slippery surfaces due to rain or cement mixing. The controls to these probable problems in the construction site are low. So, contractors use technology to make sure all spaces in the construction area have monitors. Additional lights, catching nets on the surrounding structure, and waste collectors are in the safety plan to safeguard the people in the site. Consequently, the importance of technology in ensuring the security of the workers—CCTV camera to check the areas in the construction sire—is crucial to avoid setbacks on the plans. Hired workers should also get proper training when it comes to working in greater heights.
Integrate Safety as a Part of the Job
A job in a construction site can be risky and, at the same time, rewarding to the people involved in the business. Witnessing the formation of a building is a fantastic feat, not only to the engineers and architects who designed the establishment but also to the workers. But the work that goes into the development of the structure takes time. As the construction workers commit to their responsibility of moving tools, adding materials, and using equipment to shape the structure, contractors must strengthen the safety measures in the construction site. Aside from safety training that laborers have to undergo before working on the site, the workers should integrate the concept that safety is imperative in the workplace.
Risky and dangerous, construction sites are prone to many accidents. That’s why the new and old workers must recognize the importance of understanding safety precautions announced by the contractors. The safety and healthy phase plan is part of the operational plan crafted by the engineers, architects, planners, and project managers to ensure the protection of everyone in the workspace. Nevertheless, the construction workers have to understand that their priority is their safety from any hazards in the area. And importantly, that concept should be in their consciousness all the time. The job of construction workers is more than continuing the construction of the establishment, but also keeping themselves safe from harm. So, again and again, the contractors reiterate the instructions of safety plans and processes to the workers.
Online Safety Tools
The construction industry comes with a dangerous side, and everyone is well aware of it. Yet even with the risks and unpredictability of the work, many people still take the opportunity of choosing construction projects. Instead of only looking at the hazards, people appreciate the challenge and complexity of the job. Before the modern advancement in technology, safety plans were simple and often calculated by contractors and safety officers. But with new methods in construction safety available to the market, construction companies can reprogram their system to have better results. Software to compute the approximated weight of sand to use in the construction site or hazard alerts at a specific point in the location is accessible for the convenience of contractors. Sometimes, construction companies design their own online safety tool software to address the needs of the company. The possibility of decreasing fatalities and accidents in the construction site is vital for any construction company. For investors and business folks, a project with fewer safety problems will look pleasant to the public and stakeholders.
Overall, the trends in the construction industry evolve with the adjustments in the demand and supply in the market. But for now, it is evident that people will pursue creating more edifices to accommodate the inflow of more people in cities. Although not only in urban areas, construction of buildings is everywhere. And soon, it will grow and expand even more to meet the demands of the public. This means that people in the business have to choose excellent and high-class safety practices and plans for the security of the people working in the construction site. The glitz and glamour of an establishment would seem pointless if hundreds of people got harmed in the creation of it. As a point, safety is not a crime and should be a priority for everyone.
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