Safety in the workplace is essential for those in the construction industry. Due to the dangerous nature of their jobs, maintaining proper safety equipment is imperative.
Potential hazards in construction include:
- Falls (from heights)
- Trench collapse
- Scaffold collapse
- Electric shock and arc flash/arc blast
- Failure to use proper personal protective equipment
- Repetitive motion injuries.
To combat these hazards, site managers and employers should utilize safety equipment that is designed specifically to create a safe workplace environment (such as lifting equipment, wire rope slings, fall protection courses) and follow these guidelines:
- Require the use of personal protective gear on all jobsites. Employers are required to provide construction workers with proper personal safety equipment as well as prepare them with the knowledge of how to properly use such equipment. This includes the use of hard helmets, safety glasses, lifting equipment, shoes and gloves. By requiring each employee to use personal safety equipment, sites will be much safer for everyone.
- Make sure trenches and excavation sites are safe. Unprotected trenches and excavation sites can be incredibly dangerous for employees. All trenches should be built at the regulated slope and all supports should be installed before any employees enter the site. Providing an easily accessible exit pathway is imperative. With an exit strategy in place, employees will have a quick escape from the trench if an emergency should arise.
- Don’t rush construction of scaffolding and make sure it is properly inspected and maintained.
The best way to keep a safe working environment on a construction site is to never cut corners. Taking the time and resources to properly construct scaffolding and planks is the safest way to conduct a site. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states scaffolding needs to be stable under its own weight and should be able to withstand up to four times the maximum recommended load. Also be sure to never support a structure with barrels, boxes, blocks or concrete. - Regularly inspect tools and equipment.
If an employer finds tools or equipment that don’t meet safety standards, repairs should be conducted immediately. Never allow an employee to use unsafe equipment or tools. Inspecting lifting equipment for damage is an important aspect of keeping sites safe. When it comes to testing fall prevention and arrest equipment, consistency is key. When testing fall arrest systems, OSHA recommends using a weight of 300 pounds. - Check for fall dangers and require the use of fall protection equipment and fall arrest equipment.
While it is very important to do as much as possible to prevent falls, keeping precautions in place in case a fall were to happen is imperative. When it comes to fall arrest, equipment falls under two major categories: general fall arrest (safety nets) and personal fall arrest (lifelines). Safety nets are a good idea where temporary floors and scaffolds and the potential fall distance exceeds 25 feet. Lifelines are ideal for employees working at high heights when scaffolding isn’t being used. Also, providing fall arrest training to employees is incredibly important.
