Safety Around the Worksite
Don't start a project without safety being a priority. Safety strengthens your worker's security, it keeps your projects on schedule and it improves the reputation of your organization. Listed below are just a few safety precautions to follow:
Ensure workers are wearing high visibility clothing around vehicles or heavy machinery. You want to make sure that they can be easily seen by drivers and machine operators.
Ensure workers are never positioned between moving and fixed objects such as vehicles, falling or swinging loads and heavy machinery.
Avoid areas where work is being performed above and always wear a hard hat while in these situations.
Shut down equipment before doing repairs or inspections, check wheels on equipment that could move or roll and check to make sure vehicles are in safe operating condition before using.
Inspect power tools to ensure protective guards are in place and that they are in proper working condition.
Always wear the appropriate personal protective equipment when using power tools (safety glasses, goggles, face shield). In general, ensure you are wearing the proper personal protective equipment for your worksite and job.
Stay well outside the swing radius of heavy equipment such as cranes. Again, you want to make sure you are visible to the operator.
Ensure workers attend regular safety training sessions and that only those with the proper training can operate heavy equipment.
Make sure all safety devices on your equipment are in good working order.
These are some basic safety protocols for the construction jobsite; however, these types of accidents can happen in any workplace. Here are some other suggestions you may want to build into your safety and health program.
- Securely, and neatly, store loose materials
- Ensure items stored at a height are secure
- Open one filing cabinet drawer at a time to prevent a tip-over
- Always walk behind moving equipment when possible
- Use extra caution around corners and near doorway.
- Ensure you have the proper safety training needed for your workplace and your job
