Amid the towering cranes and bustling activity of construction sites lies an often overlooked but imperative aspect: safety. Every worksite presents a constantly evolving array of hazards, which means the risk of injury is constantly fluctuating. The construction industry continually makes strides toward improving construction safety and reducing the risk of worksite injury. This article is going to highlight the different aspects of safety in construction, why safety is important, how safety is being implemented, and how safety is changing the industry.
Why is Safety Important in Construction?
People are the key to any construction project, and without them, renovations, ground-up projects, demolitions, or any construction work can not occur. Accidents not only hurt the industry but can deter future workers’ interest in a career in construction.
Proper construction site safety will reduce the risk of any on-site accidents. On-site accidents can lead to illness, injury or hardship for construction workers and their families. On-site accidents can happen anywhere and anytime, and with construction workers utilizing power tools and other equipment which are often times heavy and dangerous, safety is imperative.
It may not be as common but proper site safety can also help protect the public. Many times, construction sites are located near areas where the public convenes, and with proper site safety, the risk for the public to be harmed is greatly reduced.
How is Safety being implemented in Construction?
Safety can be implemented in many different ways on a construction site. By adopting safety procedures, protocols, and initiatives, construction personnel can feel comfortable that their well-being is safe and secure.
Regular Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QAQC) inspections are an integral part of any construction project, identifying defects that may cause serious issues. These should be held regularly by field supervisors or project engineers to ensure everything on the project is up to standard.
Enforcing weekly safety toolbox talks allows for useful conversation surrounding important safety topics. It also provides steps or a plan workers can take to prevent a safety hazard. These can also be used to start promoting a healthy culture and conversation surrounding safety.
Require site and safety orientation for every worker. This ensures workers are up to date on training before they start work on a construction site. It is also standard practice in the industry to provide workers with a hard hat sticker upon completion, and that lets co-workers, field supervisors, or any visitors know that the workers are knowledgeable about best safety practices.
How is Safety Changing the Construction Industry?
Safety is changing the industry for the better. More attention and focus being placed on prioritizing the health of the workers is a major benefit. Government organizations like the Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration (OSHA) have been formed to examine the safety conditions of workplaces and have issued laws and regulations all with the intent to promote safe workplace conditions.
National Construction Safety Week is May 6-10, 2024, and is an annual event where general contractors, subcontractors, and vendors come together to promote safety in the industry and celebrate all the people and companies that are dedicated to promoting a safe construction site.
Conclusion
Safety is the most important aspect of any workplace, in an office, warehouse, and especially a construction site. Accidents can happen however normally they are preventable. General contractors and construction companies can implement safety initiatives, rules, and protocols to limit the amount of accidents. As the industry becomes safer, more workers will want to work in this industry.