Safety in construction companies can have a massive impact on the success of the organisation. Failure to fully comply with safety regulations can result in significant fines from health and safety regulatory bodies, significant delays to the completion of projects, and a negative reputation in the industry.
Managing risk on construction sites is complex, and it requires a structured and well thought out approach. In this article, we take a look at four ways in which you can further improve safety on your construction site, to help ensure each project runs as smoothly as possible.
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Regular safety training
Safety training is essential for managing risk, both for new workers and existing workers. In-depth training on safety protocols and site rules is essential, and to further cement these lessons, it can be a good idea to pair fresh hires with more seasoned professionals.
Refresher courses for older workers are also important; consider making such training sessions mandatory and paying for the time it takes to complete them. If you don’t, it’s likely that more experienced workers will consider them unnecessary.
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Safety gear
While it’s easy for the use of safety gear to get relaxed on worksites, safety gear is highly important and is used across the industry for a reason.
Make sure that high-vis jackets and hard hats are worn at all times, and consider looking into more innovative safety solutions such as wearable devices. Such devices can help managers to keep an eye on the overall situation on worksites, and in the case that an accident does occur they can help ensure a rapid and efficient response.
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Consistent incident reporting
Without incident and hazard reporting, it’s almost impossible to manage safety on your construction project (no matter how small or how large the incident may be). It’s important to integrate incident reporting into site culture; reporting should be conducted in an anonymous manner, and should be encouraged wherever possible.
Even comparatively small incidents should be reported, as the hazard that caused that incident could potentially have resulted in something far more severe.
Unsafe working conditions are often the most common cause of accidents, and they should always be flagged to supervisors as soon as they’re spotted. Unsafe behaviour conducted by fellow workers should also be reported, although practices such as this can be harder to implement, even with promises of anonymity.
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Safety reminders and hazard signs
While training helps create an awareness of safety procedures and hazards, having visual reminders around the site helps to ensure that these aren’t forgotten throughout the day. The provision of hazard signs in accessible locations is also important.
Where spills inevitably occur and a clean-up is required, it’s important that signs are in place before that clean-up can take place. Worksites are fast-paced environments, and strong visual reminders such as these are important to reinforce safety rules at all times.