Construction site safety is always an extremely important consideration. With COVID-19 still posing a threat, it’s even more important than ever. Here are 9 tips to improve your site safety.
Construction sites come with a lot of risks. Think about it – you are running an outdoor workspace that deals with everything from heavy equipment and machinery to extreme weather conditions and frequent location changes – and so much more. There are many opportunities for injury if certain safety measures are not adhered to.
There are fall hazards, climbing mishaps, unstable work surfaces, airborne or material exposure, improper use of equipment and machinery, and even tripping over the large plethora of supplies, wires, and other various debris lying around. Truth be told, these are only a few of the safety concerns that plague construction sites!
Thankfully, employers can put safety measures in place to reduce the risk of injury. We’ve put together a list of the most important construction site safety tips.
1. Train Your Crew
You can’t just hire anyone and throw them into a construction project. This is going to greatly increase your chance of safety violations. Instead, train your crew. Make sure that each employee knows exactly what he or she is supposed to be doing before being released to work alone.
This training should include the proper use of machinery and equipment, as well as construction site safety protocols. The more serious you take training at your construction site, the more likely you are to build a work culture around doing things properly and safely.
2. Take Care of Your Machinery
Your crew is hopping on and off heavy machinery all day long. You need to make sure it is working properly and is well maintained. Performing routine maintenance is always a must. Otherwise, you could run into some issues. If you receive complaints from your crew or get wind of issues, don’t take them lightly. Instead, be sure to address the concerns.
Your construction equipment is typically left outdoors and subjected to harsh weather conditions 24/7. In addition to increasing their wear and tear, you are also increasing the risk of injury due to faulty equipment. Protecting your machinery when not in use will help keep them running smoothly – as well as extend their life. You can do this by investing in an industrial construction tent. These tents are large enough to hold even the biggest piece of equipment, keeping them protected from inclement weather and such.
3. Keep the Site Clean
With an entire crew at a construction site, things can get a little messy. You have someone working here, someone working there, a few others over there, and so on. Plus, you have all the tools, supplies, machinery, and other equipment necessary to complete the project – at the job site. All of this can make a very chaotic scene.
And, it can also greatly increase the risk of injury. Just as you would any workplace, take steps to keep the site clean and free from debris and obstructions.
4. Provide a Space for Rest or Breaks
Working outdoors gives help you load up on fresh air and vitamin D. Though it can also leave you exposed to extreme heat, freezing temperatures, rain, wind, lightning, snow, ice, and more. And these conditions alone are enough to cause serious construction site safety concerns for the crew working outdoors.
Be sure to insist that your crew wear appropriate clothing for the weather conditions. And, offer a place to escape the outside for a moment. Having a permanent inside structure is not always likely, so investing in a construction tent is a great way to provide a space for a reprieve for your crew.
Keep in mind that a healthy, well-kept crew goes hand-in-hand with your safety risk.
5. COVID-19 Safety Tips
The coronavirus pandemic has required us to make changes in all areas of business – including those that are outdoors, like construction sites. These changes allow for everyone to maintain a safe distance from one another to reduce the risk and spread of COVID-19.
Besides taking the temperature of employees as they arrive on the job site or requiring employees to stay home if they exhibit any symptoms, there are a few steps that can be taken to improve construction site safety.
Require a Mask to be Worn
Masks may not be the end-all, save-all from coronavirus, but the medical professionals have been very adamant that they do reduce the risk of contracting the virus and, ultimately, reduce the spread of the virus. To keep your construction site safe, require your contractors, crew, office personnel, and any site visitors to wear a mask when social distancing is not possible.
Reduce Your In-Person Meetings
Reducing the frequency and length of your in-person meetings allows you to increase your safety measures for everyone involved. Remember that this pandemic has increased so greatly due to community spread. Having all of your employees huddled together indoors can be dangerous and increase the chance of spread. Asymptomatic individuals could wreak havoc on your job site.
Invest in a Temporary Tent Structure
Investing in a construction tent has a lot of benefits for your company. This is especially true when it comes to maintaining a sense of security for your machinery and supplies, storage, or need extra space for an onsite office. When it comes to a COVID-19 response, though, these construction tents can bring about even more benefits. For example, giving you a place to hold onsite meetings where employees can spread out and allowing your crew a covered space that still allows them to practice social distancing in general.
Keep the Lines of Communication Open
Now more than ever, you want your crew to let you know when they are not feeling well. And they need to know that, when they do, you are going to be accepting of their concerns. Encourage your entire crew to report any safety concerns – about themselves and others. Be accommodating, too.
Discipline Employees Who Violate Safety Measures
Construction site safety measures should be taken seriously. After all, they are put in place for a reason. Any employee not abiding by these safety guidelines should be dealt with accordingly.
Conclusion
Whether it is rusty machinery, ice-cold conditions, or COVID-19, the safety measures put in place at your construction site will help lead to a successfully completed project. Following these construction site safety tips – and investing in a construction tent – can help you keep your crew safe.
