Construction Site Safety

Construction Site Safety is the most important aspect of site project management. Every human life is valuable. It is an individual and collective responsibility of the site staff to maintain the site safe and accident free.

Facts about Construction Site Safety

• The first week on each new site is the most dangerous.
• Accidents are more frequent at the end of the day.
• Small building jobs are the most risky.
• Safety helmets, Hi-viz jackets, safety boots do prevent injury and death.
• Light weight shoes-such as trainers or runners are not suitable on site.

Common Construction Accidents

• 56% falls from height.
• 21% trapped by something collapsing or overturning.
• 10% struck by a moving vehicle.
• 5% contact with electricity or electrical discharge.
• 4% struck by a flying/falling object during machine lifting of materials.
• 3% contact with moving machinery or material being machined.
• 1% exposure to a hot or harmful substance.

Safe Access On Site

• Everyone can get to their place of work safely.
• Edges from which people could fall are provided with double guard rails or other suitable edge protection.
• Holes are protected with clearly marked and fixed covers to prevent falls.
• Site is tidy.
• Good lighting.
• Fenced off from public.

 Working at Height
Height Hazards on Construction Sites are Holes in Floors, Gaps on Working Platforms, Shafts and Stairwells not Adequately Covered, Barricaded, Fenced Off. Following guidelines should be following while working at heights.

• Using ladders or scaffolding without proper fixing is crazy.
• Never use incomplete scaffolding.
• Make sure there are hand rails and toe boards at all edges.
• Things fall on sites, wear your helmet.
• Before starting work at heights check for clearance from any overhead power lines.

Working on Roofs

• Always inspect a roof before you walk on it.
• You must have protection to stop you from falling off the edge.
• You must use proper safety harnesses and running cables when working on top of a roof.
• Remember: a walk along a fragile roof could be your last.
• 50% of fatal injuries involving roofs are falls thru’ fragile materials, 30% are falls from edges and openings.   

Working at Excavation Sites

• All excavations deeper than 1.25meters must be shored or battered.
• Excavations deeper than 2 meters must have a guard rail or barrier.
• Vehicles working too close to the side of the trench or rubble piled on the sides may cause collapse.
• Vehicles tipping into the excavation must use stop blocks.
• Make sure the excavation is inspected daily.
• Make sure you know where any underground pipes and cables are before you hit them.
• REMEMBER: There is no safe ground that “will not collapse”.
• Trench sides can collapse without warning.