Working in the construction industry is extremely dangerous and injuries arise frequently. Lack of safety precautions, not paying attention, or believing you will never get hurt are all common causes that result in an injury. Although sometimes injuries are unpredictable and nobody is at fault, there are other times where an injury could’ve been avoided. That is why it is so important to know what you should be watching out for. Being aware is possibly the most important piece of advice that can be given when working in construction. Awareness allows you to recognize the danger, which then enables you to take action and prevent the danger from injuring you or others.
FALLS
Falls are among the most common causes of serious work related injuries and deaths. The occupational safety and health administration states that there are several things that can be done to reduce falls. It is the employers responsibility to set up the workplace to prevent employees from falling off of overhead platforms, elevated work stations or into holes in the floor and walls. For example, employers should:
1) Provide a guard rail and toe-board around every elevated open sided platform, floor, or runway
2) Make sure that every floor hole is covered using a floor hole cover
3) Employers must make sure that the aerial work surfaces are stable
4) Protective equipment like a body harness and safety nets should be used
ELECTRICITY
Falls from ladders, scaffolds, and other platforms can also result from electric shocks. Electrical hazards are very dangerous. It is very important to minimize the risk of shock by making sure workers are using properly rated extension cords at all times. In addition, damaged cords should be replace immediately.
MOVING OBJECTS
Moving objects is another big hazard when it comes to construction. A construction site is very on-the-go and workers are trying to complete their projects in a timely manner. Therefore, objects such as overhead lifting equipment, supply vehicles, cranes, forklifts, etc. are constantly moving. Being hit by a moving object has caused many injuries and unfortunately some fatalities. To reduce this from occurring, workers should specify the vehicle routes / routes of any moving machinery like cranes or forklifts. Also, wearing protective equipment and hard hats is especially important if there is risk of an object falling.
NOISE
The next big hazard is noise. Construction sites are very noisy and loud. Noise can be harmful for the fact that it can distract a worker from the task at hand. If their focus is lost when operating on a machine with blades or sharp objects, they may cut themselves. In addition, noise can be extremely damaging and cause permanent issues like loss of hearing for someone. Becoming death would impair a worker severely and it may cause them to lose their job if they cannot hear and pick up on the things going on around them. To reduce this from occurring, it is best recommended to wear noise cancelling ear muffs.
COLLAPSING TRENCHES
A common occurrence on construction sites is the collapsing of trenches. If a trench does unfortunately collapse, it causes several injuries and worst case deaths to workers who are inside. Workers suffer from broken legs or arms due to the lack of oxygen when the weight of the trench collapses on them. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has many rules to minimize trench collapses one being that trenches deeper than five feet must be shored for support since most trench collapses happen in trenches less than 12 feet deep. Both employers and workers should undertake necessary training on trenches collapsing.
Frontier Industrial Corp. is committed to protecting their workers and emphasize the importance of workplace safety. Knowing what these hazards are serves to properly prepare our workers so they are able to minimize the chance of injuries occurring.
Article Adapted from : https://www.napolilaw.com/article/most-common-risks-and-hazards-on-a-construction-site/