Do you own a construction business? If so, you’ll know that it’s important to keep workers safe and the site secure.
Even if you have the most robust measures in place, it’s vital that you consistently review current protocols and make updates where necessary – especially when this sector remains the one that has the most fatalities.
If you’re looking to enhance your current measures, here’s a guide to how you can keep everyone safe and your site secure.
Assess risk
You’ll need to assess the site and look out for any existing hazards. Walk through each area and record anything that could pose a risk to your team. Are there any trip hazards? Is the equipment being used high-quality, safe, and in working order? When you have all the information, you’ll be able to check and amend your current safety strategy.
Check security measures
As well as safety checks, run security assessments. Establish how accessible the site is. Is there fencing in place? Investing in surveillance such as CCTV and a security team who can guard the site can be hugely beneficial.
Invest in PPE
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is required in construction so that workers are protected on the job. This is because there are a range of hazards to shield those onsite from.
Some of the most common PPE needed includes heavy-duty, durable boots, overalls, eye shields and high-quality ear plugs. Workers might also need helmets if they’re working at a height or if they’re at risk of being injured by falling objects.
Provide training
Working on a construction site requires a fully trained team. You’ll need to ensure that employees know how to use tools and equipment. From manual handling to driving forklift trucks, there’s a lot of skill involved, and workers must be trained so that they can avoid injuries and accidents.
Also, they’ll need to know how to safely handle and store materials. There are lot of hazardous substances used in construction, so training your team in where everything needs to go is vital. It’s worth investing in a secure unit so that these substances can be kept away from the jobsite when not in use. Hire a storage container so that you have a dedicated space for these.
When things don’t go to plan
Even if you have a plan in place, things can go wrong. So, create an emergency procedure.
Train your team up in basic first aid and revisit this regularly. This can be very useful. You’ll also need to have a place to record any accidents and make sure employees know where to find this. Remind them to write everything down.
Also, have a fire safety procedure in place and make sure there’s detailed signage so that everyone knows where to meet if there’s a need to evacuate the jobsite.
By taking steps now, you’re in a position to reduce risk levels onsite.