Construction sites can be dangerous places. When it comes to safety at construction sites, this is something that needs to be taken seriously because it can lead to serious injury or even death. Especially when you have workers attending different construction sites multiple times a week, they may be unaware of the risks associated with that specific site. For example, one site may be building a skyscraper, and another a house. Both these will have different risks workers need to be aware of.
It’s important to remember that whilst working with different construction sites, the use of PPE must be worn to ensure workers are safe whilst at work. This is now a legal requirement under the 1992 Personal Protective Equipment At Work PPE Regulations.
Keep on reading to find out 3 things to look for when it comes to safety at construction sites.
Durable Materials
One of the most important factors to consider when it comes to safety at construction sites is the materials you are using to create projects. For example, the use of steel and concrete are very durable and is great for long-term projects such as large buildings. However, it’s also important to remember these are extremely dangerous materials to work with if workers are not equipped with the most appropriate PPE, they are at higher risk of injury. It’s also important to consider the durability of materials you use based on if the project is an outdoor or interior project, so the project stays safe for many years to come.
Not to mention the machinery that may be used to move large material quantities. These may be a risk for individuals.
Risk Assessments
One of the first things to keep in mind when it comes to safety at construction sites is the use of risk assessments. A risk assessment is great for identifying hazards in the construction site and is an important aspect to remember for new employees, as well as visitors visiting the site.
A health and safety risk assessment at work can include:
- Identifying the hazards. Looking across the site and come to a conclusion on elements that are likely to cause harm. You could even ask employees to see if there are any risks to them that may have been missed.
- Review who is at risk of injury. Certain individuals may not be affected by certain risks, so putting risks against individuals’ job roles can help to save time.
- Evaluate the risk. The next step will be to evaluate the risk and see if the hazard can be mitigated. On a construction site, this could include a new walkway to avoid machinery being moved around.
It’s also important these risks are updated annually.
Look for signs
There’s no denying construction sites are busy places, with lots of people moving around. Therefore, the following signs are important because they can direct workers around the construction site in the safest way possible. This also helps to ensure the running of the task is completed in the best possible way.
If you can’t find any directions at a particular site, then raising it with team members may be a good choice to help them become implemented.
Overall, we hope that this has helped you to understand the importance of safety at construction sites, and how you can keep safe looking to the future.
