Construction sites can be dangerous places. With so many construction sites currently operating in California, there is a risk of injury or even death for construction workers. If you want to make your construction project safer, there are certain common risks you need to look out for.
What are common safety issues in construction sites?
While construction sites can vary widely depending on the type of building project, most of them tend to include the same core elements. As such, the same safety hazards that can lead to serious construction work injuries can be found again and again no matter the construction site in question. These hazards include:
- Lack of property safety gear
- Lack of proper training for forklift operators
- Insufficient system for immediately reporting and responding to hazards
- Improper use of cranes
- Inadequate safety training for workers
- Improperly dug out trenches
- Slip and fall hazards near stairwells
- Ladder failure
- Failure of excavation equipment
- Improperly installed or maintained scaffolding
- Lack of fall protection such as safety nets or guard rails
What are OSHA safety standards?
The government agency tasked with developing and enforcing rules and regulations for workplace safety is known as OSHA. OSHA stands for Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the agency operates under the US Department of Labor. Every year, the OSHA website publishes new safety standards that all workplaces must adhere to. There are rules and regulations regarding nail gun safety, chemical exposure and tornado preparedness. There are also specific rules for the construction industry. Implementing such rules may help prevent construction site fatalities.
Overall, preventing accidents on construction sites requires a lot of work to preemptively predict hazards and remove them from the job site as they develop. These hazards should not be present on a competently managed construction site. Make sure your workers conform to all available OSHA safety standards.