Despite the challenges that riddle it, the United States' construction industry is predicted to reach $15,15,659.4 in 2021. Moreover, Inc.'s weekly report revealed that construction is one of the fastest-growing industries in the country, with sales growing at 17% rate. Seeing how lucrative your business is, you'd want to ensure that your workers are safe. However, this isn't always guaranteed, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded 1,102 fatal injuries in 2019. That said, how do you prioritize your workers’ safety? Please read on to find out.
Ensure that your staff wears the correct protective gear
Construction workers are more susceptible to hazards that risk their health and safety. Things that can harm them include heat, harmful dust, electrical and chemical hazards, slips and falls, etc. This makes it essential to provide the appropriate working gear for more protection and Minimize Workplace Accidents. Moreover, each protective item is designed to minimize your workers' exposure to these hazards and risks of developing illnesses or injuries. Consequently, provide hard hats, foot and hand protection, work shirts and pants, face and eye protection, hearing protection, and high-visibility garments. By all means, ensure that the gear suits each worker and meets the safety standards.
Leverage safety training resources
Poor construction safety can result in a considerable loss of productivity and labor hours, damaging the profitability and credibility of your company. Moreover, you could risk legal repercussions from the government or other authorities if you don’t meet OSHA Compliance standards. Ultimately, your company could be shut down. Therefore, it’s imperative to teach your workers how to keep themselves safe on the field. According to OSHA, every dollar invested in training will save you six to seven dollars in work-related injury costs. Fortunately, OSHA offers online safety courses that your staff can benefit from. Moreover, these learning resources are available 24/7, so you don't have to compromise your working hours.
Mount your scaffold correctly
The CDC reveals that falls account for 36.4% of total deaths, making it the leading cause of construction fatalities. The BLS also indicated that 72% of workers are injured in scaffold accidents. Moreover, they can easily collapse if they are not correctly mounted. However, since it constitutes an integral part of the job, it’s essential to mount it correctly to protect your workers and passers-by. By all means, avoid shortcuts or improvisations that compromise their safety and build it on solid ground to prevent collapse. You can also leverage rapid height safety edge protection to minimize the risks of slips and falls from the scaffold.
Inspect your tools and equipment regularly
Your tools and equipment are instrumental to your business, and your workers are as efficient as their working resources. Therefore, you’d want to ensure that they are functioning correctly. However, defective or malfunctioning equipment can put your workers' lives at risk. For instance, a malfunctioning crane or forklift can cause broken bones, lacerations, spinal damage, and death. To prevent these situations, be sure to conduct regular maintenance, and fix all malfunctions immediately. It's also prudent to replace faulty or old tools if necessary.