May is Construction Safety Month, so now is a great time to review your site safety practices. A strong safety management program doesn’t only reduce the risk of workplace injuries. It also boosts morale, enhances recruitment, improves productivity, and can increase your reputation in the community. Here are a few ways to ensure construction safety this spring and throughout the year.
Ongoing Training
Safety training should not be a one-time thing. Your safety practices should evolve over time as new regulations or better ways of doing things emerge. Regularly teaching new safety practices, as well as reinforcing existing ones is the best way to keep safety at the top of everyone’s minds.
Proper Equipment
Many workplace accidents are due to improper safety gear, tools, or other equipment. When working on a busy job site, construction workers often switch from one task to another, and it’s all too easy to skip gathering all the required gear and equipment. Set the expectation that every worker will use all proper equipment at all times, no matter how small the task, with consequences for non-compliance.
Time and Budget Considerations
Time and budget are constant concerns for any contractor. But workplace injuries are extremely expensive and can even shut down your entire project. Don’t be tempted to let safety slide in the interest of deadlines or cost savings. When estimating a job, base your figures on following all safety requirements. If a project starts to rack up overruns, find other places to make cuts while preserving worker safety.
Adapting to an Aging Workforce
Many construction workers have been in the business for decades. While this brings skills and knowledge that can only be learned through experience, it also brings a higher risk of work-related injuries. Update your safety protocols to include ergonomics, lighter tools, and other measures to help protect older employees.
Tracking and Data Sharing
Workers, managers, and other stakeholders are more likely to buy into a construction safety program if they can see the results. Tracking also helps you see how well your protocols are working and if you need to make changes. Use technology to track trends and create custom reports that you can then share with people across all levels of your company.
Need A Skilled Trade Professional?
At Great Lakes Skilled Trades, we specialize in connecting contractors with professionals in the skilled trades throughout the Great Lakes region. If you need a skilled tradesperson, learn more about our services, and then contact us today!
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