Construction sites have many dangers for workers and visitors who are not aware of them. It’s incumbent on both the construction company and people at the site to be vigilant and follow safety protocols to avoid incidents.
It’s also important to provide a convenient place for people too. This could mean enough sanitary washrooms, access to refreshments or other conveniences to make peoples’ lives that bit easier than they’d otherwise be while on-site.
Let’s now look at four ways to provide a construction site that’s convenient and safer.
Provide Conveniently Located Washroom Facilities
The people at Satellite Industries have considerable experience in providing portable washrooms to many different industries. This might be for construction sites but can also be to cover an office where one or more washrooms are closed for maintenance.
Even an outdoor wedding event might find a use for premium washroom facilities, so guests aren’t forced to trek through muddy fields to the main building to find a place to freshen up.
Think about how many facilities are needed and where they should be placed? While it may make sense to position them on either side of the site, if most workers are toiling away in a specific area, then have washrooms installed a short distance from them instead.
Beware of Anyone Working at a Height
The construction industry deals with height routinely, but it poses unique dangers for workers. This is not a new thing but there are different approaches to making it safer today compared to the past.
Certainly, using scaffolding provides guard rails but it also allows workers to utilize harnesses and safety lines to hook onto the scaffolding to arrest their fall should they lose their footing. Just this alone saves lives.
Protective equipment should be worn at all times without exception. Along with safety protocols, it’s there to ensure everyone on the site is as protected as possible.
Clear Communication Avoids Adding Confusion into the Mix
It’s often overlooked but concise communication that’s clear to both parties is extremely valuable. It avoids confusion that leads to unexpected actions or mistakes.
The method of communication can be in-person, over a walkie-talkie, a smartphone or a headset for hands-free usage. However, given the background noise with construction work and when the wind picks up, long verbal exchanges only create confusion. Everyone must be on the same page with intentional interactions, so it’s clear what is needed or what action should be taken.
Use the Best Equipment & Maintain It Well
It’s no good providing good information or documentation if construction workers are using inferior equipment. Either they must come onto the job with the right tools themselves or these must be provided by the company. There’s no excuse for companies that fail to check that the equipment is satisfactory from a safety standpoint.
Also, don’t neglect the maintenance requirements of all equipment used by personnel on the site either. Just because it was bought in good working order doesn’t mean it will remain so (or continue to protect workers) over time. Know when it’s time to replace equipment because it’s past its useful life too.
Providing a safe and convenient working environment is a goal of every employer, but that’s especially true within the construction industry due to the higher risks involved. Ensure the reporting and checks are present, so high standards get maintained rather than allowed to slip over time.
