Building sites can be very dangerous places. They are full of hazards from falling debris to heavy machinery. Therefore, it is important that all contractors understand what they can do to stay safe whilst on site. Not only does it keep people protected, but it can also save lives.
From acquiring tradesman insurance to wearing the appropriate safety gear, this article will share some top tips regarding safety on building sites.
Provide Appropriate Safety Gear
Safety gear is essential when working on a construction site. There is often rough terrain and falling debris around, which can cause injuries if you are not wearing the correct personal protective equipment (PPE). Start researching some of the essential PPE needed for a construction site. You will find that head, foot, and body protection is necessary along with high visibility clothing. Some of the typical PPE you would expect to see on site are hard hats, safety boots, protective goggles, gloves, and utility trousers, to name a few.
Not only do you need safety gear to protect both yourself and your employees, but you also need it to protect anyone who visits the site. For example, if you are working on a new build project, future homeowners may want to visit to examine the progress of the property. You will need to ensure that safety wear like hard hats, high vis jackets, and safety boots are available. Appropriate PPE ensures that everyone on-site is protected enough to guard themselves against any accidents or injuries.
Acquire Tradesman Insurance
If you are a contractor, tradesman insurance should be at the top of your priority list. This type of insurance covers you against negligence and accidental injury to members of the public. Think of the insurance policy as a safety net. Not only does it protect members of the public, but it also protects you and your employees. You should never dismiss the fact that accidents can happen, particularly with the nature of this line of work. Tradesman insurance is not an option; it is a necessity.
Luckily, finding this type of cover has been made a lot easier with the help of the internet. Now, you can get a quote for a tradesman insurance policy from websites like Buildsafe. All you have to do is answer a few quick questions, and their team of experts will help you find the best deals. The importance of this type of insurance cannot be stressed enough. It allows your business to stay open – in the event of an accident.
Use Safety Signs
Safety signs are essential on building sites. They alert your employees and any visitors of any hazards in the area. Although all employees should have undergone the correct safety training, it can be easy to forget some essential things. Therefore, it is important that they are constantly reminded of the dangers around them. For example, you may need to put a warning sign up near heavy machinery, informing employees not to walk under any machinery in operation.
There are plenty of safety sign guides online that you can look at to help you find the right ones for your construction site. You may think that these signs are unnecessary, but they can save lives. One of the benefits of these signs is the images on them. They clearly outline the hazard, making it easy for everyone on site to understand. Visually showing the hazard also helps when you are on a busy building site as they can be very loud and communicating with others is not always easy.
Provide The Correct Training
Training is essential if you are planning on working on a construction site. The nature of this work can be highly dangerous, and if you do not know how to operate heavy machinery or tools correctly, it can result in an accident or fatality. Construction has been deemed the most dangerous job in the UK, which goes to show how many hazards you can face in your everyday line of work. This emphasises the importance of a robust training program. Once it is in place, you can seek peace of mind that you are doing your bit to protect your team.
You need to ensure that you have an organised system in place for training. Like all jobs, employees will come and go, and you need to understand who has completed their training and when so you can stay on top of it. Safety warnings shouldn’t stop at training. You should also hold regular meetings with your team to go over the hazards on-site – so they stay at the forefront of your employees’ minds.
Conduct Inspections
It is no secret that building sites are full of equipment. Regardless of the size of your building site and how many pieces of equipment you have, you should always conduct regular inspections. Although the equipment may look like it is in working order, there can be underlying issues that threaten the safety of anyone who uses it. If a tool is broken, it could cause severe damage. There have been instances where construction workers have lost limbs as a result of using broken equipment.
There are plenty of top tips online regarding the maintenance of construction equipment. It is recommended that you read them so you can ensure that the equipment is safe to use. Tips like these will also help you prolong the shelf life of your equipment while keeping your employees safe. Make sure that you conduct these inspections regularly. Once every few months is not good enough. Construction equipment gets heavily used, so regular checks are a necessity.
Summary
Safety on construction sites should always be a top priority. By following these top tips above, you can help minimise the risk of injury on-site and reduce the number of fatalities in the industry each year. Failure to comply with safety regulations can have life-changing consequences for those involved. Therefore, you must ensure your team receives the proper training to help them safely do their jobs. Take time to look into tradesman insurance and don’t overlook safety gear.
