Accidents happen. While we do our best to prevent them, some companies choose to prioritize cutting costs over proper preparation and protection for the workers. This can cause the chance of accidents to become higher and put the construction workers’ lives at risk.
Construction accidents have a chance of causing worker fatalities and permanent injuries. If your workers get hurt under your care because you’re trying to minimize spending, you will end up losing more in the long run and have worsened a reputation.
Prioritise keeping your workers safe while they work on constructing your building. To help guide you, take a look at the common construction accidents, along with some pointers to minimize them.
Falling from High Places
As a construction project progresses, workers have a higher risk of slipping and falling. Falls are the leading cause of injuries and death in the construction industry. Injuries are usually worse because workers aren’t wearing proper protective equipment.
To minimize the occurrence of falls in the workplace, work with the contractor in planning out the needed equipment and materials for the workers to be safe. Railings should be constructed along all scaffolding and remind employees to remove any tripping hazards.
Install fall protection systems, such as safety nets and harnesses, and train your employees to use them properly. Also, review them on essentials, such as building a sturdy scaffolding and using a ladder properly and safely.
Particulate Matter
Some of the activities involved in construction are the blending of water, sand, and gravel to make concrete. If a building exists on the lot, it may also be renovated or even demolished. These activities release a lot of dust and particulate matter in the air.
Workers exposed to particulates will experience a lot of physical problems. When inhaled, it will cause various lung problems and, in worse cases, enter the bloodstream. It can also cause eye irritation and increase the likelihood of accidents happening due to visual impairment.
Make sure that your workers are provided with proper protective equipment and that they wear it whenever they are onsite. Equip your workers in Australia with safety glasses, hard hats, and gloves. They should also have bright vests to be seen easily.
Muscle Strain
Not all workers are equal when it comes to their level of knowledge. If they are required to lift heavy objects, they might not always know the proper posture to do. Repetitive bad form will lead to sprains or strains and, in some cases, permanent injury in the future.
Before beginning construction, brief your workers on workplace safety and proper equipment management. Train them adequately for heavy lifting and show them the appropriate posture that will lessen the strain on the body. Make sure that each of them learns it.
Moving Objects
Another significant risk factor in construction is getting hit by moving objects. They can be in the form of large equipment or falling items. The loud sound of equipment can make warnings hard to hear, and when a worker is focused on a task, they usually can’t consider their surroundings.
Avoid this hazard by doing the following suggestions. Have your workers agree on a signal system for communication, and make sure that it is easy to see. Check your equipment’s emergency stop mechanisms to ensure that they still function properly.
Make your workers’ safety a priority when handling a building project. They will appreciate your care, work hard, and give you better partner relations in the future if you need more construction to be done.