Home Construction Site Safety — Why it is Important?

Employees working in high-risk environments are exposed to a variety of dynamic activities rife with potential risks and the need to take precautions. According to statistics by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), almost every day in the Us, some 6.5 million people spend time at a construction site. The study further explains that the construction industry tops the list for fatal accidents on the job—falls being the most common of all construction site injuries. These statistics highlight the importance of having preventative safety measures in place to safeguard the workplace from harmful situations.

You may then ask yourself, what is construction safety? In a nutshell, construction safety involves implementing rules governed by strict compliance requirements to create safer working environments. It is the result of offering safety training to all workers, using proper equipment, frequent site inspections to identify potential risks, and providing clear guidelines in the event of emergency circumstances. Whether you're starting in the building industry or a veteran, compliance with the region's safety and health regulations is a significant component of construction safety.

While the primary reason for construction safety programs may be to comply with workplace regulations, there are many other additional benefits. Maintaining effective safety protocols averts common errors and incidents, safeguards the well-being of employees, saves money and time, leads to successful home-building project completion, and upholds the company's reputation.

Why is Safety Important in Construction Sites? 

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Construction safety is crucial for several reasons, including worker protection and avoiding costly fines and project delays. Safety culture should be fostered on-site for the reasons listed below:

Worker protection

If the workplace is unsafe, neither are the employees nor the business. Finding skilled personnel is notoriously tough in the construction industry, so it's essential to safeguard those you do have. Plus, today's workers value construction firms that prioritize their well-being, so having a safety-conscious culture should always take precedence. 

Efficient usage of time and money

Because of how serious construction accidents are, an investigation is necessary, and work must come to a halt. Workplace injuries result in tremendous loss of valuable personnel and indirect costs that can prove to be a huge financial burden.

An article titled "Why OSHA Training is Important for Businesses" reveals that "Businesses spend $170 billion a year on costs associated with occupational injuries and illnesses—expenditures that come straight out of company profits. But workplaces that establish safety and health management systems can reduce their injury and illness costs by 20 to 40 percent." 

Project delays due to stoppages and investigations, training offered to a new employee, and replacement of damaged material and equipment are other indirect costs listed by OSHA. Keeping the construction site secure reduces these risks, allowing your project to be completed on schedule and within budget.

Promote compliance

As you know, OSHA and other regulatory agencies require organizations to follow safety regulations at both federal and state levels. Failure to adhere to these regulations will result in fines and penalties. An encompassing protocol of safety practices that are in line with current guidelines protects the company against this genuine risk.

Safe site management

Due to the nature of construction work, it's impossible to eliminate all operations that can be risky and unhealthy. However, many common issues can be avoide by effective construction safety management. Construction site safety procedures may include regular safety audits, policies safeguarding employee well-being, and preparing a safe work method statement outlining any potential concerns before work commences.

Reduces work-related accidents 

According to OSHA, the construction sector accounts for close to a quarter of all injuries, accidents, and work-related illnesses. And an article by NASPtitled "Guide to Construction Safety" reveals that the four most frequent causes of accidental deaths and other injuries are falls from height, being struck by an object, electrocution, and getting caught in-between a machine or debris. These unwanted situations are less likely when a culture of safety ensures the construction site is suitable for operations.

How to Keep Your Construction Site Safe? 

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As the owner or manager of a custom home construction company, making site safety, a key tenet of the company culture can ultimately help accomplish a zero-accident workplace. Below are a few ways to promote safety on a construction site:

Awareness 

The first step to creating a safer job site and improving safety compliance is educating all workers on high-risk construction work (HRCW) activities. No matter the worker's role or experience level, everyone must undergo a construction risk assessment before they can commence work. The ability of workers to identify risks, access every possible hazard, and ensure preventive measures are in place without putting anyone in danger can significantly improve the safety of the job site.

Training

As stated in OSHA's  "Recommended Practices for Safety & Health Programs in Construction" report, the goal of a training program that covers in-depth risks and precautions is an effectiveway to build a top-notch safety culture. However, training to improve the security of your workers won't get very far if it's a one-off event. Regular training sessions to teach new safety regulations and standards should be an ongoing effort to help keep everything top of mind.

Communication

Effective communication between senior staff and everyone on the job site is crucial for developing and reinforcing a safety culture. A work environment where conversation and discussion around safety are maintained results in employees knowing what's expected of them in terms of on-site behavior and responsibilities.

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Documentation

Documentation that communicates all activities to be carried out should be in good order when setting up your construction site. This paperwork, including proper registrations, licenses, and safety checks, is evidence of what work is to be done and who is certified and trained to carry it out. 

Proper equipment 

Workers sometimes begin work without proper equipment suited for the job at hand, especially when juggling multiple tasks at once. The site manager is responsible for providing construction safety equipment in satisfactory condition—and strictly emphasizing the use of correct tools to get the job done quicker and safer.

Supervision

Through extensive safety training, construction workers should be equipped with the ability to identify and avoid hazards on-site, but this isn't always the case. Because of this, a safety site supervisor with excellent skill sets is necessary to put the building site in the optimal position. 

Innovation

The cost of using innovative measures to increase hazard awareness is likely much lower than an accident's consequences. Devoting extra resources lowers the rates of injuries and helps develop new construction safety plans to keep the site secure and workers out of harm's way. 

Transparency 

In line with fostering a safety culture within the construction business, transparent and honest communication about hazards and incident reporting will ensure all parties take away lessons from what has happened. Transparency also contributes to information exchange about best future practices and pushes the need to augment modern safety techniques. 

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‍Construction Safety Measure Every Contractor Should Know 

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Ensuring proper safety measures not only safeguards employees and the workplace from unnecessary risks but also clears the way for reliable custom home construction processes and successful completion. Keeping construction sites clean at all times, following environmental guidelines, and integrating innovative technology are some of the safety measures to keep top of mind. 

Follow environmental guidelines

It is necessary to pay attention to environmental hazards during all seasons of the year and take appropriate precautions to prevent injuries caused by nature's unfavorable moods. The construction site manager should be aware of all potential outcomes and be prepared to suspend work if necessary.

Keep the work area clean

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Keep all walking and working surfaces clear of debris, dust, loose nails and cables, and unused tools and equipment. The construction site must be well maintained daily and remain clutter-free to avoid the occurrence of mishaps like slips, trips, and falls.

Make sure all tools are working properly

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Tools, heavy equipment, and machinery are an everyday affair on construction sites. Before work commences, ensure all tools and equipment are in top-notch working condition. Equipment maintenance, including regular cleaning and lubrication, is an essential step toward avoiding serious accidents. 

Proper climbing protocol

The proper climbing protocol is a safety issue that necessitates comprehensive safety planning. Because climbing work activities are physically and mentally demanding, only trained and authorized workers should be allowed to participate. Having protection systems in place for every climb is listed as one of OSHA's top 10 most frequently cited standards. 

Use of technology 

In her article for Salus titled "How Technology is Improving Construction Site Safety," Shannon suggests that adopting construction safety technology offers a chance to effectively mitigate age-old safety concerns. Thankfully, opportunities like virtual reality systems to create streamlined contractor site safety programs, drone technology to conduct remote inspections, and wearable technology to promptly identify and respond to accidents help improve safety levels from the earliest stages of the project.

 Common FAQ about Construction Site Safety 

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What are construction workers' responsibilities for health and safety?

Construction workers should refrain from cutting corners or taking unnecessary risks. Workplace safety programs are design to foster continuous health and safety improvements. It is the responsibility of the workers to be fully competent and aware of the risks associated with every single action. It is also advised to notify the supervisor immediately of potential hazards or incidents and administer basic life-saving techniques if necessary. 

How can technology help construction site safety? 

A full toolbox of technologies—from drones and sensors to virtual reality and smart wearables— is becoming increasingly commonplace on job sites today. Used alongside health and safety programs, construction safety technology can make a huge difference in ensuring workers aren't expose to harmful situations throughout every phase of the custom home-building process. 

How do you manage construction site safety? 

The article "Duties & Responsibilities of a Construction Safety Officer" by use blog suggests that to execute site safety management effectively, the supervisor must create, implement and enforce policies to keep his team out of harm's way. This can be done by determining hazardous situations, identifying which policies are necessary, and how to encourage a safety-conscious culture best. 

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