Construction sites will always have an element of risk associated with them due to the nature of the work. In general, however, they are very safe places for contractors and employees as long as the right safety precautions are put in place, and regular assessments are made to ensure that everyone is working within a safe environment.
Nevertheless, accidents and incidents do happen. In fact, it is estimated that one in ten construction site workers will suffer an injury on site every year. Clearly then, much more needs to be done to minimise the risk of injuries and accidents occurring on a construction site, but also that everyone involved needs to equip themselves with as much knowledge on the subject as possible to understand how to avoid perilous situations.
Here we take a look at some of the biggest construction site safety challenges and how they can be dealt with.
It is an obvious issue but still one that can cause serious problems on construction sites if it is not dealt with. It is imperative that any construction site should be as clean and tidy as possible. Of course, to a certain extent this can be a challenge as all construction sites will necessarily have equipment, materials and much more hanging around. But, it is important to minimise the clutter as much as possible.
Anything that could be a trip or slip hazard should be kept as tidy as possible, away from the main areas where people walk. The only solution here is to put someone in charge of keeping the site in good order; that way, they are responsible to ensure that all tidying gets done.
Any kind of work on a building that was built before asbestos was banned from use in 1999 carries the risk that you could come into contact with the material. Asbestos can be extremely dangerous to human health and is one of the most widely understood safety issues for anyone involved in construction.
For any building that was built in 1999 or before, you should have an asbestos survey carried out to establish whether or not the material is present. If it is, steps need to be taken to eradicate the risk that anyone will be exposed. This might mean having the material removed, or taking greater care to make sure all areas containing asbestos are kept away from the construction work.
Having trespassers on a construction site can be a pain, and one that might be a threat to security, but it might not usually be considered a concern from a safety perspective. However, this idea has been challenged to a certain extent, as it is noted that ‘thieves may damage equipment which makes it more dangerous to operate on the site. For example, if heavy machinery is sabotaged or electrical wiring is exposed.’
Working with damaged equipment can pose a huge safety risk, so in that sense, trespassers and criminals can cause safety concerns on construction sites. It is important then, to put powerful security measures in place to keep unwanted visitors out.
There can be no doubt that electrical issues and electricity pose a huge safety concern on construction sites. Electrical accidents are one of the most common causes of injury on sites.
Construction sites that are badly supervised or found to be negligent on electrical and fire issues pose a real health & safety danger. In one recent high-profile case a construction firm was exposed and brought to justice for having:
So, it is important that those responsible follow the rules and regulations surrounding fire safety and any use of electricity or electrical equipment.
Working at height is inherently risky, but is important to mention, because it can be so important from the perspective of keeping the site secure and safe for workers. Firstly, it should be noted that all work at height must be cleared with a safety assessment and plenty of forethought into whether or not this is the right option.
There are many safety challenges at construction sites, so it is important to ensure that those in charge of the site put in the correct policies and procedures to minimise risks. Thorough safety assessments and good-quality training for those working on the site will go a long way to help keep everyone safe.
