Construction Job Site Safety 101

A construction job site safety 101 is a high-hazard area. Construction workers, engineers, and other people at a construction site are constantly exposed to risks and hazards. You need to create a safe environment even before the work begins.

Construction job site safety is all about putting measures and procedures in place to protect workers, equipment, and the general public from anything that could happen. Ensuring safety in your construction job site includes:

• Implementing safety policies

• Providing training and supervision

• Enforcing safety regulations

The Importance of Keeping the Job Site Safe

There are several reasons why it’s essential to keep a construction site safe.

1. It Protects Your Workers

When you have a safe construction job site, it helps prevent illnesses and injuries among your workers. Safe job sites lead to fewer accidents and better productivity. It ensures that there is order and the workflow is smooth.

2. It Complies with the Necessary Regulations

Construction sites are subject to local laws and safety regulations. These guidelines ensure that the construction site is safe to work in. If you fail to follow the laws—such as those that require keeping the construction site safe—you may have to pay fines and other penalties.

3. It Gives You a Positive Reputation

Safe construction sites help maintain a positive reputation for a construction company. It shows the company’s commitment to safety and quality—something companies consider when looking for construction companies to partner with for their next big project.

Types of Construction Hazards

There are several types of construction hazards to watch out for. Implementing effective safety measures can help prevent accidents from happening.

Trips and Falls

Fall hazards are one of the most common types of construction sites, particularly because construction sites often have several different levels. Construction workers may fall from ladders, scaffolding, and other elevated surfaces. If there are unmarked or unguarded holes, workers may accidentally fall through them. Tools that are left scattered around may cause workers to trip on them.

Electrocution

Electrical hazards include shocks, electrocution, and arc flashes. These often occur when working with electrical equipment. They can also happen because of exposed wires, improper grounding, or if the electrical equipment you’re working on is damaged. Electrocution may lead to severe injury and even death.

Struck-by or Caught-in-Between Hazards

Struck-by hazards occur when objects or materials strike a worker, such as flying debris, falling objects, and moving vehicles. They can happen directly or indirectly.

Caught-in-between hazards are when workers are caught, crushed, or pinned between objects or equipment. These incidents can occur when loose clothing gets caught between belts and pulleys. Heavy equipment or foundation walls that aren’t secured properly can also fall and crush or suffocate an employee.

Because a lot goes on in construction sites, you want to ensure your workers have the right gear to protect them. Keep all machines and other objects secured to prevent as many incidents as possible.

Exposure to Hazardous Materials

While working on a construction site, workers are exposed to various elements and materials—some of which may be hazardous, including:

• Asbestos: a naturally occurring mineral in old construction materials (may be present if workers are tearing down old walls) that can cause lung cancer and other health problems when inhaled

• Lead: a toxic heavy metal used in some paints, solder, and plumbing materials

• Silica dust: a fine dust generated from construction activities, such as cutting or drilling concrete. It can cause severe respiratory problems, like silicosis.

• Chemicals: found in various construction materials like paints, adhesives, and solvents. They can cause respiratory problems and other health concerns when inhaled.

• Toxic fumes: welding fumes, for example, may contain various toxic substances, including manganese and chromium. These can cause respiratory and neurological problems

Fire

Construction job sites are often susceptible to fire due to the nature of the environment. For example, they are often filled with combustible materials, such as wood, paper, and fabrics. These materials can easily ignite and spread fire quickly.

Construction sites often use or store flammable chemicals, such as paints, solvents, and fuels, which add to the risk of fire. Additionally, you’ll find a lot of “hot work” going on, such as welding, soldering, and other jobs that create sparks and flames that can ignite nearby materials, leading to a fire.

How to Keep Your Job Site Safe

When constructing a new building, whether commercial, residential, or industrial, you want it to be a safe place to prevent injuries, illnesses, and accidents. Here are some ways you can keep your job site as safe and secure as possible.

Always Wear Protective Gear

Make sure anyone and everyone entering the construction zone has the necessary protective gear, also known as personal protective equipment (PPE).

Some PPE include the following:

• Hard hats to protect the head from potential hazards, like falling objects, impact, electric shock

• Safety glasses or any other eye protection

• Construction shoes or rubber footwear with steel toes

• Masks and/or respirators

• Leather gloves, suitable for handling rough and sharp projects

• Safety vests to enhance visibility and safety

If special equipment is required for operating a particular tool (e.g. a face shield while welding), be sure to have these available, too. Your safety gear is your last line of defense in case you run into problems or come into contact with hazards on site.

Provide Clear Instructions

Remind all contractors, engineers, and other workers to become familiar with the site operations. Create a standard set of rules and make sure everyone who goes through your site knows them (whether working there, visiting, or inspecting). Be sure to relay all health and safety instructions to the workforce before you begin the work. It may even help to remind them frequently and conduct regular job site safety training.

A comprehensive site operations plan can include:

• A detailed description of the project: scope, location, general site conditions

• A description of possible identifiable hazards at the job site

• Contact information for emergency personnel

• Procedures and protocols for handling common safety issues

• A breakdown of regulations

• Instruction for reporting safety incidents or hazards

Make Signages Visible

Safety signs warn and raise awareness for all people at the job site. Put them in appropriate areas where they are easy to see and understand.

Various signs include

• Mandatory signs

• Warning signs

• Prohibition signs

• Safe condition signs

• Firefighting equipment signs

• Other signs

Keep the Construction Site Tidy

Loose wiring, scattered tools, and unswept debris can be dangerous, causing falls, slips, trips, and more. It’s important to keep the construction site as neat as possible by cleaning it daily to prevent accidents. This can be done in a couple of ways.

Organize and Store Tools and Other Equipment Properly

Make sure no tools are lying around as these can get damaged or cause injury to workers. Store them in a proper place so they won’t get lost and can easily be found by those who need them. Label the items with multicolored tapes to mark different equipment or tool uses.

Make Sure Machines are Turned Off

Leave power tools unplugged. Once someone is done using a power tool or machine, make sure they unplug it or turn it off to avoid accidents.

Avoid Working in Unsafe Areas

Make sure your work area or the area for your employees is safe. If you have workers who need to do work at a certain height, make sure you have suitable guard rails and fall-prevention equipment in place.

Avoid working under crane loads or other dangerous areas. Even if they seem secure, one slip-up can cause a bigger, uncontrollable accident.

Use the Right Equipment for Each Task

Tools serve specific tasks—and no one tool fits all. While it may be tempting to use whatever you have to save on costs or create makeshift tools, using the correct tool will get the job done faster and, most importantly, safer.

Be sure to follow the other safety regulations and laws that may be implemented by your local government, such as the voltage allowed or the additional safety measures required for specific machinery.

Inspect Tools, Equipment, and Machinery Regularly

Before you begin work, be sure that all the tools and equipment your workers will be using aren’t damaged or are free of defects. One slight damage can have a greater cause-and-effect and may lead to an accident if you aren’t careful. If certain tools or equipment are old or rusted or aren’t working properly, it may be best to replace them than to persist in using them.

Set Up Safeguards

Keep your workers and job site safe by placing engineering controls. These can include the following:

• Barriers

• Fences

• Safeguards

These will help keep people away from hazardous areas, such as those with high-voltage electricity or toxic fumes. If you have areas with holes where people may accidentally fall through, remember to mark those areas as well.

Be sure to set up fire alarms and firefighting equipment, such as the following:

• Industrial high-intensity fire alarm bells: a loud, audible alarm for industrial settings

• Fire extinguishers: to stop small fires from spreading

• Fire blankets: to smother fires and prevent them from spreading or causing further damage

SHOP OTHER FIRE PROTECTION EQUIPMENT HERE.

Report All Issues Immediately

Train and encourage your workers to report all problems instead of trying to figure things out themselves. From faulty tools to defective machinery—if something doesn’t look or feel right, report it immediately. Avoid tampering with the tools or equipment, especially if you aren’t authorized to do so or don’t have the knowledge.

Instruct the management to investigate and work on the situation immediately so the problems are solved sooner and accidents are less likely to occur.

Prepare an Emergency Response Plan

It’s always better to be prepared for everything or anything that may happen. An emergency response plan ensures the safety of your workers and minimizes damage in the event of an accident or emergency at a construction site.

What Should an Emergency Response Plan Have?

A comprehensive emergency response plan should include the following elements:

• Clear procedures for reporting emergencies. Include contact information for emergency responders and designated personnel within the company.

• Evacuation procedures and job site maps. Make sure it shows all exits and evacuation routes.

• Fire safety procedures. Show detailed information regarding fire extinguisher locations and how to use them.

Hazardous material handling procedures. Include instructions on how to contain spills and clean up common dangerous materials used on the job site.