Safety On Site Ensuring A Safe And Productive Construction Site
Construction sites are well known for being high risk workplaces
, it is often the scene for cartoons and films where characters get injured but in real life you should be doing all you can to ensure that a construction site is as safe as possible for all workers and potential visitors.Making sure that you ensure all workers are aware of the hazards and conducting a thorough review of all of the risks that are present is vital not only for your workers safety but the productivity of your company too.
A common hazard in most construction sites is falling objects; tools, equipment and building materials are often used high up and so making sure that all people on site wear a hard hat is crucial, even something as innocuous as a falling nail can cause significant injuries when dropped from a height.
Workers falling from a height can also be a danger so anyone working high up should only be doing so with proper training and secure scaffolding.There are harnesses and safety lines that can prevent large drops especially as the wind can be fierce and cause someone to lose their balance which could lead to a casualty.
Fire hazards are often present on building sites as welding torches and other flammable materials are used in the construction trade.All flammable substances should be kept in a secure area away from any open flames as well as workers being sure not to smoke cigarettes on site or have mobile phones which can cause a spark that is all that is needed to cause a fire or even worsean explosion.
Of course even after conducting a detailed site audit, risk assessment and providing all necessary safety equipment accidents can still happen and it is important that you are prepared to handle any accidents and injuries no matter how minor they may be.An accident log book is important for both anyone injured on site as well as the safety of your company from a legal standpoint.
First aid kits are required in any workplace but due to the nature of work carried out on a construction site you may need larger or more comprehensive medical supplies as well as any treatments for chemical burns and eye baths.A trained first aider should be present on site to ensure that there is someone who is prepared to handle injuries and accidents whether this is to handle the injury themselves or to provide essential first response care until an ambulance arrives.