Construction is among the most thriving industries across the US and worldwide. While business opportunities and the number of projects are constantly on the rise, the number of injuries and fatalities in the workplace in this industry is frightening. Recent stats show that one in 10 construction workers are injured in the workplace annually, and the majority of these incidents happen within small businesses. When these incidents happen, the business can report damage across various assets, from a loss of assets to reputation damages. However, injuries in the workplace can be preventable. Start increasing the safety of your small business and construction site with the tips below.
Complete All the Background Checks
It all starts before your construction site even exists. Each location is different from any other and includes some risks and threats that you might not have encountered before. So, before getting started with setting up the construction site, it is important to examine what’s around you and what’s below the ground. Options such as employing a utility locator service or checking whether the building you are about to work on is safe can already set the levels of safety of the site.
Complete a Risk Assessment
As we have seen, each site is unique. Throughout your career, you might have worked at different sites and contemplated the different risks of each. While such experience can help you better identify the risks you might face, it might also trick you into the trap of not looking out for new dangers. Therefore, it is crucial to work on a case-by-case basis and never underestimate safety.
Invest in Staff Training
Just like a number of other industries, the construction sector is always evolving and embracing new technologies. While investing in innovations is crucial to keep thriving within the construction sector, it is also important not to underestimate the importance of staff training. After all, your employees are your construction company’s greatest asset! Through staff training, you can ensure that all of your workers are aware of the risks they are facing during their days at work, and they know how to handle them.
Leverage Technology
Technology is innovating and changing the way all businesses operate, including those within the construction industry. Technology can streamline your business operations and increase productivity. However, in this industry, technological systems can also play an important role in increasing the level of safety of a certain site. For example, drones, wearable gadgets, sensors, and virtual reality can help employees identify risks and avoid them before they become threatening. Self-driving vehicles and self-operating machines can also help workers minimize their exposures in high-risk locations or during dangerous tasks.
Don’t Underestimate the Power of Communication.
Communication is at the core of all safe businesses. All entrepreneurs and business owners understand and appreciate this. However, it is common to forget the difference that a proper communication system can make in the level of safety of a site – especially when you have been working with the same employees and in the same area for years! However, now that technology is changing, you should be reviewing the channels used to identify ways to improve on-site communication.
