The construction industry is one of the most dangerous to work in, and this is why it is vital to prioritize safety onsite. Not only is this essential to protect your business, but the health and wellbeing of your workers should be considered your main concern. While they are all responsible, it is you as the employer who holds the most responsibility.
To better protect your workers, you must increase safety on the construction site. This can be completed in various ways, as outlined in this post. By using the methods listed in this post, you are giving your workers the knowledge to stay safe and your business the opportunity for success.
Provide Education and Training
Safety training is an ongoing aspect of working on a construction site, and this should begin from the induction phase. Workers should be made aware of the health and safety policy arrangements in place on the construction site to ensure they understand how you will keep them safe. This will also mean providing them with explanations of the key site risks and a description of how to work on the site safely.
As preparations for training workers in safety can be costly for your business, you can make use of the safety compliance services from EMDS. These services include training your construction team with a certified instructor either in-person at your facility or a different location, or online. The training courses are available in different formats and time frames, and this allows you to choose the best option for you and your employees.
Use the Proper Equipment
The education and training you provide will also include offering PPE as well as documentation on how to wear and use them. This equipment will protect against common hazards on construction sites, such as being struck by objects, noise exposure, and falls. When supervising workers on the site, you can carry out checks to ensure the PPE is being used and maintained correctly, as this equipment will protect workers during their duties and any incorrect variations could result in an injury.
Workers should be given equipment to protect their heads, eyes, ears, hands, and the rest of their bodies. This will include hard hats, safety glasses, noise reduction earmuffs, and steel-toed boots. High visibility clothing will protect anyone on a construction site who is constantly in motion; this will help prevent accidents and collisions from taking place. Additionally, respiratory protection might be used when working with hazardous substances.
Involve Employees in Developing Policies and Procedures
Workers should be included in the policy-making decisions when it relates to construction safety. This is a clever idea that your business can benefit from as employees often have the most experience. They are currently working in the industry, dealing with all aspects of workplace safety, and can offer valuable insights to the process.
It is important to remember that health and safety in the workplace is the responsibility of all positions. The entire team must work together to ensure the construction site is a safe environment, but those most often on site will likely have the best knowledge of the risks workers face on a day-to-day basis.
As one of the most dangerous industries, with almost one in five of all workplace deaths occurring in this sector, it is essential to prioritize safety when on the site. You can achieve this by providing adequate education and training, using the correct PPE, and involving all workers when developing safety policies, as outlined by this post.