How can you make your working environment safer for your construction workers? Operating heavy machinery is dangerous. Working in tempestuous weather can also be. Keeping workers from contracting illness or becoming injured is an ongoing task that sees no rest. With the aid of proper equipment and a constant eye for danger, you can make one of the most dangerous industries that much safer for the workers that repair our roads, create our buildings and clean our streets.
Below are some of the more common pieces of equipment that no site should ever be without.
Reflective Safety Jacket
Many workers have to operate heavy machinery and transport luggage in the dark. A reflective safety jacket makes it easier for others to spot them in poor light, reducing the risk of accidents by a significant margin. Breathable reflective rain gear does the dual work of protecting against cold temperatures, as well, and can nip common illnesses in the bud. No construction environment is complete without a standard reflective safety jacket.
Earplugs
A frequent hazard brought by construction environments is constant exposure to loud noises. Permanent hearing loss can be caused by sounds louder than 85 decibels. The National Institute For Occupational Safety And Health has also determined that the maximum exposure time to any sound at 85 decibels is eight hours. Earplugs, however, can reduce noise by 15 to 30 decibels.
Durable Shoes
Construction workers have to walk, stand and transport heavy objects for hours on end. While the average person can walk perhaps 10,000 steps per day (provided they aren’t in a particularly active industry themselves), a construction worker or day laborer will do three times as much. A good pair of shoes should be durable enough to keep from losing their texture or pliancy over the months. The grip should be solid enough to be stable on uneven or slippery ground.
Gloves
Gloves are necessary to stave off cuts, burns and even potential loss of limb. They should fit securely and be made out of a waterproof material, to boot. They’re useful for preventing burns, steeling against the cold and even helping with grip when operating machinery. Coupled with a good pair of shoes and a reflective safety jacket, many minor to moderate injuries can be easily avoided.
Creating A Safer Work Environment
A custom reflective vest or high vis pants are more than just for show. They shield workers from the everyday hazards they need to navigate through in order to do their job to the fullest. Newer employees are also more likely to take sick leave than their more experienced counterparts. Nearly one-third of nonfatal work injuries that 2013 required time away were from employees with less than a year under their belt.
A project is only as good as its workers. With safety equipment carefully maintained and utilized at all times, the construction industry can shake off its reputation as a dangerous field and keep more people safe than ever before.
