- Construction workers face daily risks to health and safety.road works. road construction image by L. Shat from Fotolia.com
Health and safety is a top priority for any business; but it is even more important in the construction industry, where employees are at constant and severe risk of injury or even death. Therefore, whether constructing a road, a house or a factory, a safety checklist should be reviewed for each worker on site to ensure that the correct procedures are being followed. - Personal protective equipment (PPE) is a must for all site operatives, and workers without basic PPE are turned away from site. PPE is, at the very least, a hard hat, high-visibility vest or jacket and steel toe-capped boots. Those carrying out drilling works may need ear defenders, while workers who are involved in cutting concrete and other materials will need to wear a dust mask.
- All equipment must be regularly inspected to ensure that it is in good working order and in good condition. A tool that malfunctions can present an extremely dangerous risk, and it is therefore vital that inspections are carried out often--ideally, by a health and safety officer employed by the main civil contractor, who will also ensure all hazards and risks on site are minimized and eliminated.
- All site staff must know exactly what to do in the event of an emergency, such as who to notify and where to assemble for a head count. This information must be conveyed to employees by the site manager on the first occasion a worker visits the site.
- The site manager or health and safety officer must ensure that all workers on site who are responsible for handling and operating machinery or tools have been sufficiently trained to carry out these works. Proof of this may be required in the form of identification cards or certificates. The main contractor may also decide to hold regular training sessions on site to refresh memories regarding basic site safety.
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