Ways To Help Keep Workers Safe in the Construction Industry

Industries like the construction field that require intensive physical labor can often involve lots of unavoidable hazards. Injuries can range from slips, trips, and falls to accidents with equipment and machinery. Thus, you should take precautionary actions and consider a few ways to help keep workers safe in the construction industry.

Provide Accommodations

Many contractors opt to provide workers with accommodation near the construction site. They want to save time and money by having the workers commute to the job site every day. The problem is that a common practice is to house the workers in on-site tents that aren’t very comfortable and don’t provide enough space to relax. As a result, many workers end up tired, which can make them careless. This can place them at greater risk of making mistakes that lead to injuries during the workday. Endeavor to find better accommodation for your workers to keep them at their best.

Have Health and Safety Training

Another way to help keep workers safe in the construction industry is to keep your safety practices updated and ensure every worker is well-versed in them. Often, simply having your workers practice proper safety protocols is an effective way to prevent them from growing careless and complacent.

Inspect Equipment and Tools

Old, rusted, and beat-up equipment can be a liability as well. Not only is it less effective, but it runs the risk of breaking and harming your workers. While a broken tool might not seem like a big deal, equipment like heavy machinery can quickly spiral out of control and potentially harm many people. Workers should report any sign of damage or suspicious noises from machinery so that they can undergo thorough inspections. This way, they can receive repairs right away.

Provide Extra PPE

Because there are unavoidable hazards in construction, you may need to compensate by providing extra equipment rather than just the standard kit. For example, constant and prolonged use of power tools like drills or jackhammers can eventually cause permanent damage to a worker’s nervous system, blood vessels, and more within their hands. To prevent this, you should provide your workers with vibration-absorbing work gloves.