Although construction is among the most dangerous industries and often entails high-risk activities, construction safety managers should be aware of what to watch for and pay special attention to keep workers safe and protected. Construction safety managers can utilize a digital tool, such as a mobile monitoring application with particular checklists for every risk.
Worksite safety should be a top focus for all construction firms, from large-scale industrial worksites to small-scale residential painting jobs. It is the company’s responsibility to create a safe and healthy workplace for their workers, irrespective of the size or nature of the job. Worksite protocols, a safety plan, and education, and suitable personal protection equipment are all examples of ways to guarantee the right construction site safety precautions are in place.
In the construction sector, there are numerous health and safety concerns. According to OSHA, the construction sector has the highest injury and mortality rates of any other industry. We’ve put together a list of the most common risks and hazards that construction workers experience on the site, as well as how to avoid them.
1. Working at Heights
Working at heights is described as performing construction work from a height exceeding 2 meters. It is one of the leading causes of work-related fatalities and injuries globally. Working at heights should be avoided as much as possible; nevertheless, this may not always be achievable for most forms of construction work. Here are some digital templates that construction safety managers can use to assist limit the risks of operating at heights:
- Keep track of the tasks you’re doing and the people you’re working with on the field.
- Determine the activities that are linked with working at a height.
- Assess controls such as training, planning, and effective use of fall protection systems and construction safety equipment to reduce potential risks such as falling, slipping, or tripping.
Because of the widespread use of scaffolds in the industry, construction safety managers should ensure that scaffold checks are carried out properly every 7 days after setup and only by scaffold experts. Construction safety managers can supply this person with the scaffold inspection template to assist them in navigating OSHA scaffolding safety standards.
If ladders are not properly examined and used, they might be catastrophic. Construction safety managers can use the ladder inspection checklist to analyze the danger of ladders and reduce ladder-related incidents. This is accomplished by following the template’s two major steps:
- Create a ladder profile that includes the kind, construction, length, class, weight supported, ladder images, and label.
- Identify flaws in certain ladder components, such as the ladder’s feet, rung locks, spreader bracing, side rails, bolts, rivets, ropes, steps, and rungs.
2. Skin and Face Hazards
Dust from materials, gases, fumes, and smoke is not only detrimental to your lungs, but it can also cause major eye and skin damage. Anyone entering a work site should be fully informed of the potential risks and outfitted with protective gear to avoid harmful safety hazards. Eye protection, such as safety goggles or glasses, shields your eyes from potentially harmful particles. Spray socks and hoods shield the skin from the excess spray. Know the potential risks and safety concerns of the environment when selecting a coverall type. There are numerous protective clothing options available.
3. Moving Equipment
Although scaffolds and ladders are deemed high-risk, at least part of them are stationary, lowering the likelihood of workers not utilizing them being injured. Moving equipment or equipment used for raising or lowering weights, unlike scaffolds and ladders, poses a larger risk to public safety. Construction safety supervisors should ensure that workers follow proper safety practices when moving or lifting equipment to avoid possible mishaps. Furthermore, construction safety managers must adhere to all applicable area regulations.
4. Asbestos
Asbestos is a dangerous fibrous mineral that was once widely utilized in building materials such as siding, paint, and flooring in the mid-nineteenth century. Because of its dangerous and lethal effects, asbestos was eventually banned in building materials in 1977.
Because asbestos-containing materials were utilized in many homes and structures, it is vital to take measures when these particles become airborne during construction. The immune system cannot break down the durable fibers, which can lead to cancer, lung illness, and asbestosis. To avoid being exposed to the dangers of asbestos, identify the locations on the construction site where asbestos is present and use Personal protection equipment (PPE) and respirators.
5.Respiratory Risks
Asbestos is just one of numerous respiratory hazards that can be discovered on a construction site. Concrete, coal mine dust, toxic gases, fumes, sawdust, and even smoking are all examples of airborne particles that can cause major respiratory difficulties, infections, and cancer.
To avoid this, workers should be informed about potential respiratory dangers and provided with the proper protective equipment for their tasks. Respirators or dust masks should be worn if there are any dust, smoke, or gases present. Then, to protect others, prepare your area. To keep particles contained, always use a dust containment device to enclose your work area.
6.Manual Handling
During operations, manual handling refers to the lifting, lowering, carrying, and moving of objects. Apart from hand-arm vibration, recurrent, sustained, high, or sudden force, repetitive movement, sustained or awkward posture; and whole-body vibration are all features of high-risk manual handling. Manual handling risks must be assessed to safeguard workers from musculoskeletal problems such as HAVS, epicondylitis (elbow inflammation), and rotator cuff injuries (affecting the shoulder).
7.Electricity
Electricity exposure has long been identified as a construction safety hazard, with electrocutions being the most dangerous. According to the Center for Construction Research and Training, one of the leading causes of electrocution among construction workers is a lack of fundamental electrical safety awareness when handling electrical equipment.
Construction safety managers should undertake frequent electrical inspections and maintenance checks to prevent electrocutions and other dangerous electrical exposures. This approach also aids construction firms in meeting OSHA’s electrical safety guidelines.
Collapsing Trenches
A trench is a shallow excavation dug beneath the ground’s surface. According to OSHA, trenching work poses substantial safety risks to all employees involved, with collapsing trenches or cave-ins posing the highest risk since they are more likely than other excavation-related incidents to result in fatal accidents.
To reduce this danger, construction safety managers should conduct regular excavation risk evaluation to ensure that employees only enter trenches after suitable protection measures such as sloping, benching, shoring, and shielding have been installed.
