Injury Concerns When Working Construction

Did you know that there are approximately 250,000 construction sites in the United States alone? Injury rates among construction workers are also marginally higher than those who choose other professions. Falling from heights, working with heavy machinery, and repetitive motion injuries are just some of the most common risks that construction companies have to account for. Yet, every year almost 20% of all work-related fatalities come from construction workers. 

Here are some of our tips on how to prevent injuries on your construction site:

Fall Protection:

• • Use fall protection such as guardrails, fall arrest systems, safety nets, and restraints to help prevent any sort of on-site injury.
    • Providing your employees with a safe work environment may seem obvious, but many employers think they’re saving money by not abiding by the rules. 

Heavy Equipment:

• • Check all vehicles and equipment for proper operation
  • Use traffic controls any time a vehicle enters a public thoroughfare
  • Place flaggers wearing high-visibility gear at all appropriate locations
  • Ensure that loads do not exceed the capacity of vehicles and equipment
  • Only make repairs once workers are protected from the movement of equipment

Scaffolding: 

• • Encourage your employees to be extra cautious with wet platforms during or after rain
  • Postpone work during extreme weather conditions (strong wind) 
  • Post signs clearly labeling the weight capacity of your scaffolding 
  • Do not move the scaffolding unless it is designed to do so (especially if there are workers on it)

Trench Collapses:

• • Workers should always have access to a ladder, stairway, or ramp to exit the trench 
  • Heavy machinery should never approach trench edges.
  • After a rainstorm or excessive vibrations, a competent person should inspect trenches before workers enter.

Repetitive Motion Injuries:

• • Some of the most common forms of injury in the construction world are repetitive motion injuries.
  • The best way to prevent these types of injuries is to educate your employees 
    • Teach your workers the proper technique for carrying equipment and lifting/moving objects

Personal Protective Equipment:

• • It is required that employers provide employees with the proper protective equipment while on the job, but it is the responsibility of the employee to wear the proper protective gear on all of their shifts
  • If your employees work around heavy machinery, make sure they are equipped with hearing protection, boots, and gloves.
  • The same goes for if your employees are working anywhere where their head is exposed, hard hats must be worn. 

 

Many of the tips provided in this article may seem obvious to a conscientious business owner. But unfortunately, construction worker injury is a problem year after year, and it is a result of bad safety practices. Do not think of implementing extra safety measures as a new expense that your business has to pay. Think of it as an easy way to save money, and not only will you save money in the long run, but your employees will be safer and happier. 

If you still have questions, you can contact a risk advisor today at 914-357-8444. Or, you can visit our website here.