By Elias Brito, Resource Manager
Let’s be clear! Never start a project without safety being a part of every employee’s job. Why? Because construction safety strengthens your workers’ security, it keeps your projects on schedule and it improves the reputation of your organization. With that said, embracing construction job safety must be a priority, a collective effort that includes everyone from the superintendent or manager to the last worker and vendor. Take a look at some of the steps you must take to make your jobsite safe once and for all.
Keep Walking
It goes without saying that one of the first things to do to make your jobsite safe is to walk the construction area before you start operations. That allows you to identify potential hazards, dangers and weaknesses and helps you plan how to handle them. You must take a walk every single day during the project to make sure that you know every change that has taken place. From weather conditions to human negligence things change, and failing to recognize that is going to have consequences.
Be a Team
Nothing is going to help you more to make your jobsite safe than talking and reviewing safety with your own team. Don’t make construction safety just your own or the superintendent’s problem. Bring your crew on board and make it a collective effort. Have project managers and supervisors meet with the rest of the staff on a regular basis to go over construction job safety guidelines and to assure that everyone is committed to safety.
Increase Accountability
People tend to follow processes better when they are held accountable. The same applies to construction safety. Set your safety guidelines and hold accountable anyone who fails to comply. When workers know how seriously you take construction job safety and how you respond to irregularities, they follow the rules. Walk the jobsite and immediately repair any security glitches you see. Be consistent with safety discipline and recognize the employees that obey instructions.
Train the New Troops
During the life of a project you might have new workers joining your team. It is important that everyone is trained around construction safety before setting foot on the site. From OSHA regulations, to equipment operation, to emergency plans, make your jobsite safe by educating new hires about construction job safety. For example, plan a 3 hour safety meeting for rookies where you review safety requirements, emergency procedures and disciplinary actions, and stick to it for every project you work on.
Learn From Mistakes
A great way to keep your employees safe and sound on the jobsite is by learning from your mistakes. In case an accident takes place, make sure you review what went wrong and why. Meet with your team to examine what happened and how to avoid it in the future so that you make your jobsite safe for the future. For instance, did the injured worker know how to use their equipment? Were they following the construction job safety rules? Do the same for incidents that almost led to an accident. Try to improve through your own mistakes.
Key Takeaways to Tips to Keep You Safe and Sound on the Jobsite:
1. Walk the jobsite every day to identify potential hazards and dangers
2. Make construction safety a collective effort
3. Hold everyone accountable on safety rules
4. Educate new employees around construction job safety before having them on the site
5. Examine accidents and close calls to improve future construction safety
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
