Working in a construction site is extreme manual labor. Aside from this, workers face many potential hazards every day. But you can prevent these things with some strategies in the workplace.
Have Proper Training
Knowledge is power. Knowing potential dangers or how to handle accidents are all essential. Supervisors, forepersons, and team leaders should take short courses and refreshers. Knowing about safety training schemes will help them perform their functions as leaders.
Informal safety talks can remind all the workers of safety protocols. Because of the rigidity of deadlines in sites, some workers tend to forget or be careless. It is good to remind everyone of their responsibility to maintain safety. Also, some choose to hear instructions from leaders. This holds more authority as opposed to being passed down through people of the same rank.
Prepare Everything
Before each phase of the construction work begins, make sure that everything is set in place. Approvals are essential and serve as a go-signal to start work. Scaffolding, catch platforms, and nets must all be installed appropriately.
Preparing the proper tools or equipment is vital to ensure safety. The wrong equipment or improper use of the right ones are significant reasons for some accidents in the job site. Keeping these tools or equipment near the area where they are needed will help, too. Having to move them at great distances when required can cause unforeseen events.
Distractions and obstructions shall be eliminated, too. Although construction is a messy job, make sure that there are no unnecessary risks that can lead to accidents.
Gears and proper clothing contribute to overall safety. Without safety gears and with improper clothing, a worker is more exposed to encounter an injury. Having a good supply of drinking water throughout the day is also essential. Extreme physical labor, coupled with scorching temperatures on the site, can lead to dehydration.
Have Open Communication
Clear directions of the workflow will keep everyone on the loop of the operations. Communication devices such as walkie-talkies, smartphones, and headsets help the whole team to relay information to one another. With clear communication, everything will be smooth sailing and untoward incidences will be prevented.
Also, part of open communication is teaching the team to speak up when something is going wrong. Encouraging workers to raise concerns that threaten the safety of the whole workforce can help to prevent it. Some are afraid to report what they know because of the fear of judgment or bullying by others. This should not be the case. Honesty among the team will help everyone do their job responsibilities well.
Have Technology on Your Side
Drones are like assistants that conduct site inspections. With the use of these devices, a broader scope is covered and checked for any issues. Accessories such as smartwatches and glasses alert supervisors when an employee meets an accident. These will increase response time, and appropriate action will be given immediately. Many advancements in technology are applied in the construction industry nowadays.
Working in a construction site does not have to be risky. Most of the work to keep everyone safe falls on the supervisors. Good leadership contributes to having a safe working place.