How to protect workers in construction?

August 24 2022 - Construction sites can pose many dangers to workers. From falling from heights to moving objects and asbestos, there are all sorts of construction site hazards. It is the moral responsibility of the employer to protect workers as much as possible. Negligence can lead to severe injuries and even death - it’s imperative that a construction site avoids these mistakes. You can begin this process by taking out builders’ insurance to protect your business from compensation claims and any other losses. But there are other steps you can take too. Below, we explore how you can protect workers in construction.

Safety policy and procedures

To begin with, you should lay the foundations for protecting workers at the construction site. This starts with a safety policy. This is the set of processes and procedures that you stipulate on the construction site. By writing this with the help of safety experts, you can set up a document that codifies the safety culture you want to set up on-site.

PPE

After you’ve put together a safety policy, it’s time to consider more practical solutions to protect workers. Person protective equipment (PPE) is one excellent way to do this. By providing protective equipment, you can ensure that if an accident does occur, your employees will be likely to suffer less damage. Hardhats, durable overalls, gloves, sturdy boots and goggles are all essential forms of protection in construction.

Adequate training

You can also boost safety standards in construction by empowering workers. If you give your workers the appropriate training, they’ll be in the best position to make decisions to keep themselves safe. By raising education throughout the workplace, you should notice that the number of accidents falls.

Training can also relate to crucial courses your team should take, such as the expert Asbestos Awareness Online Course. This course is key for understanding how asbestos affects workers and how to deal with it effectively and safely.

Safety culture

Creating a culture of prioritising safety can help as well. If you repress conversations about safety, this lack of information can lead to more accidents. Instead, you should make the workplace open to safety discussions. This can be achieved by logging every accident and encouraging workers to speak up if they feel unsafe.

Encourage open discussion about mental health

Mental health is often overlooked when it comes to safety, but it can have a huge impact. If a worker is struggling mentally, they might make dangerous mistakes. As such, you should try to encourage an open discussion about mental health in the workplace. If an employee doesn’t seem themselves, you should encourage them to speak about it or receive support.

Protecting workers is paramount in construction. It can be difficult to boost safety stands overnight, but by following the guide above, you should notice a gradual improvement in safety for workers on the site.

• More workplace health and safety articles