
While the average person may not realize it, those who work in construction know the job’s hazards all too well. Most workers take precautionary measures, but even so, accidents can happen. That said, there are some things you can do to protect yourself and others. If you’re looking for the best ways to prevent construction accidents, read our guide below.
Offer Training Consistently
Training is one of the most useful tools a company has, especially in construction. Company leadership and management should develop a training program and require workers to attend. While there’s a lot to cover in a construction training program, you should spend extensive time on safety procedures and best practices. If you need help developing a plan, you can reference OSHA’s many resources.
Require Workers to Wear PPE
A surprising number of workers don’t wear their protective equipment while on the jobsite. Wearing PPE such as hardhats, reflective vests, and harnesses if you’re doing any suspension or climbing work is one of the easiest ways to prevent accidents and injuries. Depending on the jobsite, OSHA may require other safety equipment, so be sure to reference those requirements.
Know Your Equipment and Its Accessories
As you know, construction requires a lot of equipment. Your crew might operate excavators, backhoes, skid steers, and cranes for rigging and hoisting. In fact, every machine has various attachments ranging from buckets to magnets. Moreover, rigging and hoisting can lead to a lot of accidents if you’re unfamiliar with rigging hardware and how to use it. Whether you’re in management or a machine operator, you must know your equipment inside and out. If you don’t know how to use the heavy equipment’s accessories and hardware properly, you could put other workers at risk.
In general, the best way to prevent construction accidents is through communication. Training communicates to workers howto be safe. While you’re on the jobsite, you should ensure coworkers are clear before you begin using heavy equipment.
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