All You Need to Know about Construction Field Work Safety Guidelines

Compared to other employees, construction workers have a higher fatality rate. OSHA reports that in 2019, the construction industry was responsible for one out of every five worker fatalities, or about 20% (1,061) of all worker fatalities in the private sector. Presently, there are a lot of safety issues with construction projects. Safety should always come first in all projects, whether they are residential, commercial, or public infrastructure projects.

Fall-related causes accounted for 381 of the 971 construction-related deaths in 2017 of all fatalities.

Rules and regulations about construction site safety govern construction sites and construction workers. Occupational health and safety regulations and building standards are other names for these rules. You can utilize a site safety rules and regulations handbook to operate a building site safely and successfully. The risks and hazards that are common on a site are illustrated, along with the safety precautions that must be taken to avoid accidents.

These safety rules and regulations are intended to help general supervisors, inspectors, safety managers, and site managers make judgments about work practices and site operations.

What does construction site safety mean?

Generally speaking, there are a few safety measures to take before visiting a construction site. All employees on construction sites need to wear protective equipment, such as helmets, safety glasses, strong shoes, etc., according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Without wearing a hard helmet and understanding how to be safe there, no one should go to the location. Equipment on the site needs to be maintained in excellent working order and inspected frequently.

An object struck construction workers in 2017, accounting for 80 out of 971 deaths of all fatalities.

Employees on a building site need to be in good physical and mental health. To prevent injuries or death from falling, for example, people who suffer from dizziness bouts, have a fear of heights, are ill, or are worried should not be allowed to operate at an elevated height.

Proper lifting techniques might help avoid any possible back injury. When transferring heavy goods, use your legs rather than your arms and ask a partner for help, if needed.

All safety regulations must be followed by construction employees when handling hazardous materials. Although these rules differ based on the kind of material being handled, they usually require the use of gloves, eye protection, a face shield, and other protective gear. Every machine, tool, and piece of equipment that has the potential to ignite or explode must always be maintained in a safe place. A qualified individual will examine all portable tools and equipment before using them on the job site. Additionally, you should constantly be aware of your surroundings.

Be alert for potential hazards in the vicinity, such as falling objects. Remember to drink plenty of water. To stay focused and comfortable at work, it’s critical to drink lots of water. Maintaining appropriate ventilation and other environmental conditions is essential.

What are the essential construction safety guidelines that should be employed?

Following these general construction safety guidelines will help keep both employees and guests safe on a construction site by preventing accidents, injuries, and other health issues:

1. Wear PPE always

To minimize exposure to numerous hazards on the building site, all employees and visitors should wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE). Common PPE includes high-visibility vests and suits, boots, gloves, ear muffs or plugs, helmets, and goggles.

2. Be alert and pay attention to signs

Management can alert employees and guests to health and safety hazards by using safety signage. When needed, strategically position them throughout the facility. The many signs, including warning signs, mandatory signs, prohibition signs, safe condition indicators, firefighting equipment signs, and building site safety guidelines, should be known to workers.

Also read: How does Lystloc give the best field visit management solution to the organization

3. Provide precise directions

General contractors should have access to a site induction. By doing this, new hires will be able to become acquainted with site operations. Another efficient method of communicating health and safety guidelines to employees is through toolbox talks. It is carried out either daily or more frequently before work starts.

4. Maintain a clean construction site

Make sure that there isn’t merely dirt, dust, loose nails, and standing water from backfilling and excavations scattered all over the place. The building site needs to be kept clear of clutter and cleaned every day to avoid trips and falls.

5. Properly arrange and store tools

Lights and power tools should be unplugged, and no tools should be left lying around. Adhering to building site regulations might protect shield tools from harm or even worker injury. Easy navigation will also be made possible by placing them in their proper locations.

6. Utilize the appropriate tools for every activity

Accidents are frequently caused by improper use of tools or equipment. Do not use improvised tools. Use the appropriate tool instead to do the task more quickly and safely.

7. Create a plan for dealing with emergencies

In the event of a fire, natural disaster, hazardous material leak, or other calamity, an emergency response plan instructs the team on what to do. Assign a specific group of people to handle urgent situations, respond to inquiries, and report possible risks, poor quality, or close calls.

8. Implement safeguards

Engineering controls like fences, barriers, and safeguards are a few techniques to guarantee site safety. These are going to assist in keeping people away from dangerous locations having high-voltage electricity or chemicals that emit harmful odors.

9. Frequently inspect tools and equipment

Before starting any task, be sure that the tools and equipment you want to use are in good condition.

10. Instantly report problems

Workers should be trained to report on-site flaws and near-misses as soon as they are observed. Only when issues are brought to management’s attention can they be resolved. There is less possibility that problems will worsen and result in mishaps or additional damage the sooner they are disclosed.

Equip your construction field industry with Lystloc

For each construction project, construction safety is a critical component. To safeguard the health and welfare of their employees, increase productivity, lessen the negative effects on the company’s financial performance, and advance sustainability, builders and contractors should give it top priority. Construction industries can adopt field employee monitoring software to streamline construction field employees’ field-related activities. It would enhance the whole operation from attendance marking to providing real-time updates without any micro-management. Lystloc is one of the precise field employee monitoring software that monitors your field employees’ field-related activities at your work desk without any micromanagement. 

To know more about the features of Lystloc, contact us now and use our 7-day free trial for a better understanding and working procedure.