Construction sites are one of the most dangerous places to work in. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics paints a grim picture of 150,000 workers being injured every year due to construction site-related activities. In reality, the numbers are higher thanks to all the unreported cases. Fortunately, a lot of these accidents are preventable through practicing stringent safety precautions on site and spreading awareness among workers. If you are a manager or a worker, here are some important ways that you can keep yourself and others around you safe to prevent yourselves from senseless tragedy. 1. Do Not Start Working without an Induction The first step of any professional training should include safety training. Keep in mind that each site has specific hazards and high-risk areas. Induction training is a legal requirement for all workers, and that too for good reasons. It helps reduce the risk of accidents as well as provide advice on emergency management until medical services are received. 2. Safe Work Method Assessment The law requires that all construction – before commencing – must provide a safe work method statement and other construction safety initiatives, which outline the work at the site, all potential risks involved and the measures taken to mitigate imminent risks. The statement should be placed at a site that is visible to all workers. All safety protocols should be easily available and regularly monitored to ensure that they are practiced. A 24/7 emergency contact with maps and signs throughout the site should display clear instructions to get to all exit and entry points, the site office, emergency fire equipment, first aid, as well as other site amenities, like toilets.   3. Always Wear PPE A construction site is a huge safety hazard and notorious for unfortunate accidents. It goes without saying that the victims are usually the workers or visitors to the site. The importance of wearing Personal Protection Equipment or PPE cannot be stressed enough. All aspects of the protective gear, from the hats, boots, vests, and goggles, serve an important purpose in minimizing injury. The ear muffs protect you from the noise; meanwhile, the boots protect your feet and provide a firm grip. Moreover, the high-vis ensures that you are seen, whereas the hat protects your skull. A PPE can be a differentiator between a minor accident and a fatal one.   4. Do Not Put Yourself Or Others at Risk Your actions may put not only you but others in danger; hence it is necessary to conduct yourself responsibly at construction sites. One wrong move can prove to be fatal for others; therefore, maintain all safety protocols throughout your work hours. 5. Never Work in Unsafe Areas Be mindful of your surroundings and stay vigilant when working with equipment. Ensure that there are guard rails when working at heights and that you have safe access to sites. Never work under cranes or other dangerous operations where there is the risk of being hit by something overturning or collapsing. 6. Report Defects and Near Misses Any problem should be immediately notified to the appropriate authority. Most of the time, the management will only take action once they are made aware of it. But never try to take matters into your own hands. Never remove machine guards, safety locks, guard rails, or scaffold ties and don’t tamper or attempt to fix equipment unless you are competent enough to do so. 7. Use the Right Equipment Only use the appropriate equipment for the job and ensure that it is in good condition and safe to use. Never use 240v instruments without prior authorization and safety checks, and only stick to 110v equipment. A safety precaution that should always be practiced is to check all tools and equipment for any damage or defect before commencing work.   8. Entry and Exit Points There should be separate points of access for vehicles and heavy machinery to ensure pedestrian safety, especially at sites of high traffic flow. 9. Compliant Chemical Storage One of the most common causes of fire at construction sites is due to chemicals that haven’t been stored carefully. Other accidents like chemical injury, explosion, asphyxiation, and pollution at work sites are also not uncommon. Proper storage, such as an explosive storage cabinet is used that separates chemicals to reduce spillage. 10. Environmental Conditions Construction sites are open spaces and, therefore should account for adverse environmental conditions. Protection of workers must be ensured, and guidelines must be in place to stop work in the event of natural disasters and other emergency situations. Ideally, a dedicated team should be organized to manage emergency crises, such as these and direct workers and answer questions. They will also be responsible for conducting quality checks, report hazards and near misses to elicit a prompt response from the head office.   11. First Aid Ideally there should be one first aid officer for every 25 workers. Nevertheless, all workers must be trained to offer basic first aid and CPR through regular first aid training workshops to provide help until emergency medical services arrive. The first aid kit and all equipment should be easily accessible on site and known to all workers.   12. Keep the Site Tidy and Practice Site Safety A clean site is a safe site. Construction sites are bound to be messy with debris and equipment on the ground, which increases the risk of trips and falls. This accounts for a large percentage of major on-site injuries. Dusty sites will trigger respiratory illnesses, so it is essential to keep sites as tidy as possible to avoid asthma attacks or exposure to toxic dust. Be careful to prevent the collection of stagnant water, which can become a breeding ground for insects and lead to an infestation. It is also essential to restrict access to sites with equipment that can potentially injure pedestrians or visitors as well prevent theft or damage to the equipment itself. 13. Set Up Safeguards The best form of safety is to isolate

Buying a brand new home can be fun, especially when you know that you will be the first person to ever reside in that property. That being said, you may find that a newbuild home lacks the character or personality that may be found somewhere that has been loved, and lived in, previously. Due to this, you may want to stamp your own brand onto the place to help you enjoy it even more. Do so quickly To help you get settled in, you may want to make some changes that are somewhat instant. Needing to wait months or years for your hedges to grow can be somewhat tedious, especially if you want them in place to stop people from looking in. You might find it useful to opt for some fast-growing Laurel from the Hedging UK website. These plants may have already been grown for some time, allowing them to stand a great deal taller than saplings. You may then be able to simply position them where you like within your garden, dig deep enough holes for the size of the hedge you have bought, and move them into place. Due to the size and weight of these hedges, you may require some help from another adult to be able to manoeuvre them and ensure they are planted correctly, both straight and secure. Figure out your boundaries When there is nothing in place at the front or sides of your home, it can be difficult to figure out which parts of the land belong to yourself, your neighbours, or are public property. By checking your documents, you may be able to gain precise measurements regarding what land belongs to you, or the person on the deeds of the house. Rather than needing to keep this paperwork on you at all times, you could instead opt to use hedging. This can not only prevent you, your neighbour, or even the general public from encroaching on your land, but also make those boundaries a lot clearer. When doing so, it can be important to take responsibility for your hedging, so that it doesn’t obstruct public walkways or cause a nuisance to other households. Invite wildlife to your home Whether you have bought a property in an urban or rural area, you may still want to see as many birds or animals as possible. Having hedging within your garden can be a great way of accomplishing this. Depending on your local area, this could provide foxes with some cover, protect hedgehogs, or even give mice or birds a place to raise their family. Add into this that plant life can also prove to be popular with bees and other pollinators.  Before you purchase any hedges for your new home, you may want to first consider where they will be placed. This can allow you to find great spots where they get enough sun, and can really help to increase the amount of enjoyment you get out of your new home. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals