How to Improve Worker Safety in Heavy-Duty Construction Projects

Heavy-duty construction projects are dangerous worksites. Prepare accordingly and your work crew won’t be nearly as vulnerable to potential harm. Improving construction worker safety is as simple as following these construction site safety tips. 

Job site hazards cause trips, falls, concussions and worse. Proactively address those hazards before beginning work each day and you’ll segue into building with confidence. Clearing out construction site hazards begins with a thorough inspection. 
  
Start out by reviewing the entirety of the site for potential hazards including trenches, electrical wires and more. If you find any such hazards that require additional work or an extended period of time to address, warn your coworkers of those pitfalls to heighten awareness. 

The weather itself has the potential to be hazardous. Harsh conditions such as rain, sleet, hail, fog or even heat and humidity make it difficult to complete specific tasks. Moreover, those conditions can also make it difficult to operate certain construction site equipment

Clear and cogent communication has the potential to make the difference between life and death on a heavy-duty construction site. Working construction is a team effort. Yelling out to coworkers across vast distances amid loud worksite noise won’t suffice. Spend for high-quality walkie-talkies, use reliable smartphones and encourage your team to over-communicate rather than under-communicate. 
  
Communication makes coworkers aware of hazards, risks and challenges. Create and adhere to a communication protocol from the beginning of the construction project until the end and you’ll rest easy knowing you’ve done your part to prevent injuries. 

Every worker at a heavy-duty construction site needs a hardhat helmet for adequate protection. Steel toe work boots, safety glasses and gloves are also essential for protection. Such PPE, short for personal protective equipment, minimizes harm to one’s person in the event of falling objects, wayward equipment, coworker missteps and other unexpected sources of physical impact. 

Donning a hardhat and safety glasses isn’t enough. Your team will greatly benefit from occupational safety training. Provide an initial safety training session at the start of the project and update those instructions as necessary. 
  
In particular, such training is essential for new additions and those who lack experience working in the construction industry. Even veterans of the industry will benefit from safety training refreshers to reinforce lessons of the past. 

Instruct coworkers to maintain as clear of a work space as possible. All mobile materials and equipment should be put away after work is complete for the day. Such preventative measures prevent accidents and also ensure a smooth transition as the next day of work begins. Keep in mind, even a single tool or other material left out in the open can lead to a trip and fall. Ideally, spaces for overnight storage will be identified and used to keep obstructions out of the way. 

Ladders and scaffolds have inherent risk. Those using ladders and scaffolds to ascend to high elevations should be required to adhere to protocols. Provide clear instructions for setting up ladders, how to work on ladders and what to do after taking them down to maximize heavy-duty construction safety. 
  
Scaffold use also requires clear protocols as their use can lead to falls, slips, contact with falling objects and worse. Implement specific procedures and you’ll rest easy knowing everyone is kept safe. As an example, all construction site employees should be provided with the steps necessary to take when using a scaffold including clearing tools from the space and securing safety belts. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) has created specific safety regulations for those working on construction sites. Such rules are applicable to everyone working onsite. The rules cover all different aspects of construction work including the operation of heavy-duty equipment, personal protective equipment use and general construction. 
  
Keep in mind that OSHA regulations and rules are updated as time progresses to reflect construction industry best practices. Refresh yourself and your team on the applicable rules and regulations before starting work to minimize the potential for painful accidents. 

Construction equipment has limitations. As an example, there are specific load limits applicable to cranes, scaffolds, excavators and other machines. The last thing you need is for a construction machine or vehicle to break down mid-project. Be aware of each machine’s limits when lifting objects. Secure all loads with the necessary rigging attachments. 
  
Above all, use each construction machine as it is intended to be used. As an example, a crane and an excavator are not the same. Each machine serves a specific purpose and should be limited to that functionality. Use each machine as intended by its manufacturer and you’ll minimize breakdowns and injuries to improve worker safety in construction. 

The vast majority of potential falls can be prevented using the right safety measures. Be aware of fall hazards and proactively detect those risks before starting work. Roofs, scaffolds and ladders are the most common areas where falls originate. Donning the right type of footwear and avoiding areas laden with debris prevents such falls. 
  
Encourage all employees to report hazards likely to cause falls to supervisors. Adding stair grabbers will also help keep construction workers securely rooted in place when traversing elevated and dangerous spaces. 
  
Every construction site worker should wear fall protection equipment. Such equipment greatly reduces the risk of a fall injury. As an example, fall protection gear and equipment typically consists of devices, restraint systems and arrest systems. 
  
Fall prevention devices range from safety nets to guardrails, toe-boards and more. Toe-boards are added throughout elevated platforms for fall mitigation. 
  
Fall restraint systems are necessary to prevent construction workers from moving toward an edge that increases the chances of a fall. Such restraint systems typically consist of a lanyard of a fixed length connected to an employee’s harness and a secured point that serves as an anchor. 
  
Fall arrest systems are also important for fall prevention. As an example, the use of a full body harness has the potential to save a life. Retractable “lifelines” and lanyards used to absorb shock also help prevent a potentially deadly fall to the ground from an elevated height. 

Rushing through work at heavy-duty construction sites will inevitably backfire. Maintain a measured pace that promotes awareness and safety. Working slowly or at a moderate pace isn’t highly efficient yet it minimizes the potential for painful and possibly fatal accidents. Above all, never let a deadline dictate the pace of work. The inherent stress of setting a deadline puts worker safety at risk. 
  
Avoiding a worksite accident, injury or death has the potential to be as easy as working at a moderate pace. Every worker should be thoughtful, highly aware and safety-oriented when using heavy-duty construction machines, recognizing those machines can cause significant pain and death. 
  
Working at a measured pace includes taking time for breaks. Construction workers should be allowed to hydrate, snack and replenish their energy with periodic breaks. Such hydration and pauses prevent heat stress and exhaustion. It will also help to slather on the sunscreen and wear light-colored clothing to prevent overheating. 

Every worksite contributor should be aware of the common signs of heat exhaustion and dangerous fatigue. Dizziness, headaches, reddened/hot skin and shallow breathing are all signs that a break is necessary. 
  
If any such signs are exhibited, those workers should be immediately pulled from the worksite. Allow fatigued construction workers ample time to recuperate within a climate-controlled trailer or work truck.