By Brian Flynn, New England Regional Manager – Always ask yourself. How safe are you when working on construction sites? Do you take the right safety measures to protect yourself and your teammates, or do you have a more passive attitude while on the job site? Each year thousands of workers lose their lives or get badly injured as a result of failing to adhere to safety standards. Ensuring construction safety must be at the core of every project you work on. Take a look at the tips below on how to build safe and ensure that there is always construction job safety for you and your coworkers.
It Starts With You
Would you ever drive a car that doesn’t have brakes? Would you ever let your child ride a bike without a safety helmet? From repairing your backyard fence to working on a paid project, keep in mind that construction safety starts and ends with you. As you focus on how to build safe, make sure that you always have with you your personal protective equipment such as boots, hard hat, protective glasses, vest, face mask and anything that enables you to protect yourself from injuries. Additionally, ensure that all employees on site have the necessary protection equipment and adhere to safety standards.
The Job Site
Another great way to ensure that construction safety is met is by making sure that you thoroughly inspect the job site beforehand. Walk around to identify any potential dangers, and familiarize yourself with the surroundings. Is there a loose floor or hole covers that you should be aware of? Is there a first aid kit and where is it located? Being educated around details like these not only helps you to concentrate on how to build safe, but it also allows you to define potential risks and be prepared.
Reliable Equipment
A large number of work accidents take place because the equipment used for the job is not appropriate or because it fails to meet standards. Before starting work on a project, inspect your tools and machinery thoroughly to make sure they work according to specifications and that nothing is wrong with them. Do you have your extension cords with you? Have you cleaned the debris from your tools? Let your manager know of any problems and avoid using tools that put your construction job safety at risk.
Emergency Plan
While construction is exciting, it is also full of unpleasant surprises. Guessing what might go wrong and trying to prevent problems is almost impossible. Knowing what to do when something goes wrong is vital. As you work on ideas about how to build safe, make sure that you always have an emergency plan in place that allows you to address hitches in a timely manner. From knowing where the nearest hospital is located, to identifying where the emergency exit is, be prepared to respond to a crisis by anticipating what action to take.
Safety Standards
There is no better way to make sure that construction safety is met than to adhere to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. OSHA standards are designed to provide guidelines about how to build safe and maximize construction job safety. Educate yourself around mandates and recommendations from safety inspectors and communicate them to your managers and coworkers. Gain knowledge in recognizing and controlling exposures and hazards you would otherwise be unfamiliar with.
Key Takeaways to Safety Tips to Build Safe:
1. Always have your personal protective equipment with you and ensure that it fits the project requirements
2. Take a thorough walk-thru of the job site to familiarize yourself with hazards and dangers
3. Inspect your tools before starting working
4. Have an emergency plan in place
5. Always follow and adhere to OSHA standards
About TradeSource
Founded in 1993, TradeSource is a construction labor solutions firm focused on delivering labor solutions to contractors throughout the United States. By supplying skilled tradespeople – where and when they’re needed – we help contractors grow their companies, without the associated costs and hassles of full-time hires. Likewise, we match qualified employees with rewarding and well-paying job opportunities in the construction industry. www.tradesource.com
