Construction work can be quite dangerous. According to the Bureau of Labor And Statistics, 142 workers died in 2019 due to roadway accidents. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect yourself while working on the road.
Have a Safety Plan in Place
Proper planning is one of the things that can be done in order to keep your construction workers safe. Your plan should include a traffic control plan. This will help manage the traffic that comes in and through the construction zone.
Use Personal Protective Equipment
Everyone needs work zone equipment and personal protective equipment while working. Personal protective equipment is what each individual worker has to wear in order to keep themselves safe. This includes things such as hearing protection, visible clothing, steel-toed boots, and hard hats. You should make sure that you comply with the standards that have been set by the American National Standards Institute. Work zone equipment includes items meant to warn people to be careful and to keep them aware of what’s going on while the road is under construction. This would include items like barriers, signs, and flags.
Encourage Workers to Be Aware of Their Surroundings
Employers are responsible for making sure that everyone stays safe. However, workers are also responsible for their own personal safety. That is why it is important for you to encourage them to be aware of their surroundings while they are working.
Tell them to avoid walking around cars. You should also tell them to stay away from heavy swinging equipment. Additionally, they should walk facing traffic whenever necessary. It is a good idea to have a spotter in order to monitor the movement of equipment.
Have a Team Safety Meeting Every Day
Everyone needs to know what they need in order to have a team safety meeting. That is why it is a good idea to have a training session every day. It doesn’t have to be a long training session, you just need to spend about 15 minutes discussing the safety guidelines for the day. This meeting should include reminders to properly put on their protective equipment. During the meeting, you should also give them a list of tasks that they need to do. Additionally, you will need to make sure that they are wearing their equipment the right way.
Most of the accidents involving construction workers can be avoided with proper planning and equipment. Which is why it is so important your workers use the proper equipment both for their person and their worksite. Everyone needs to be mindful of their surroundings at all times. Furthermore, it is a good idea for you to have a team safety meeting every day.
