A construction site is a place where a building is being repaired or built. Those working on construction sites are sometimes required to work at heights, use certain machinery and tools, and around hazardous material. Because of the nature of work, working on construction sites can be hard and dangerous at the same time.
Taking into account construction safety measures, workers can save a lot of time, money, and effort. Below are some common construction hazards you need to be aware of every time you visit or work on a construction site.
Constructions are termed to be among the industries with fatal injuries to workers. Construction hazards will depend mostly on the type of work done at a certain site.
1. Working at height
According to recent research, around a quarter of fatalities found on construction sites were from working at heights. Therefore, working at height is categorized as the most common cause of injuries to workers on construction sites. People working at heights are expected to undergo certain training on working with certain equipment and different surfaces to be safe.
The law dictates that all employees must assess the risk of working at height before starting the actual work. A plan must be put in place to ensure all workers are safe before, during, and after work.
2. Trips, falls, and slips
Falls, slips, and trips can happen anytime and in any environment. Construction sites have buildings at different completion stages, unused material on the floor, and uneven terrain: falls and trips are common hazards. According to HSE reports, hundreds of workers are injured following trip and slip every year.
Most of these accidents can be avoided by simple training and effectively managing access routes like stairwells and working areas. The construction manager’s responsibility is to effectively manage the site so that workers can move around freely and safely.
3. Noise
Noise is a common hazard on construction sites. Repetitive, excessive, and loud noise can cause long-term hearing issues like deafness. Also, workers can easily be distracted by loud noise leading to work-related accidents. Therefore, the employer needs to conduct a noise risk assessment and offer workers appropriate personal protective equipment (PPEs) where necessary.
4. Moving Objects
A construction site is an environment that keeps changing, and hazards increase as construction continues. Workers encounter many moving objects while on the construction site like supply vehicles, lifting equipment, and diggers, all moving on uneven terrain. Consequently, reducing this risk should be the number one priority on any construction site.
5. Manual handling and materials
Equipment and materials are constantly being moved and lifted from one place to another on the construction site, manually or by a device. Regardless of the method used in lifting or moving materials on the construction site, handling them with great care is important.
Workers need to have adequate training where activities involve manual handling. If an employee is required to move or lift materials using lifting equipment, they need to be properly trained and tested to see their competence.
