GIRA R.

VILLARTA

DEFINE SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION

Construction safety involves any safety procedure that is related to the construction industry or
construction sites. Construction safety aims to ensure that a construction site or the industry as
a whole is not the cause of immediate danger to the public around a construction site, or the
workers at a construction site, as well as making sure that the finished product of construction
meets required safety standards.

IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION

Health and safety in construction is not a matter to be taken lightly. In fact, health and safety needs to
be front of mind in every aspect of construction at all times.The construction industry is prone to many
hazards and accident potential. Construction materials, tools, machinery and handling techniques all
come with their own dangers. The main types of accidents which cause death or serious injury on
construction sites include falls, incidents with site vehicles, collapsing materials and contact with
overhead power lines.

Most accidents can be avoided by implementing stringent health and safety protocols and ensuring
those protocols are constantly maintained. H&S methods will ensure the construction site has good
design, good planning and uses tried and tested safety techniques.

There is simply no excuse for slacking or cutting corners when it comes to health and safety in
construction. Poorly implemented health and safety techniques, design and management can result in
accidents, illness and even death.

To back up the importance of maintaining health and safety standards on building sites in Ireland strict
legislation and regulations have been put in place including the 2006 Safety, Health and Welfare at Work
regulations.

WAYS TO PROMOTE AND MAINTAIN SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION

Here are six ways you can improve and build upon your construction company’s safety
culture:
Make safety your top priority. Jobsite safety should be placed above everything else:
costs, productivity, timelines, etc. Your employees are your number one asset, proving
to them that their safety is your top concern on every project instills confidence and
builds trust.
Putting safety first can help reduce costs and improve productivity on the jobsite.
Accidents lead to cost overruns and project delays. Improving safety means fewer days
lost due to accidents and injuries. A strong safety record can also help reduce insurance
costs.
Training, training and more training. Properly training your workers is the easiest way
to help improve your company’s safety culture. It shows your workers that you are
committed to keeping them safe and healthy.
Training shouldn’t be a one-off event. Safety training should be a continuous and
ongoing effort to help reinforce best practices. Ongoing training will help your workers
better retain what they’ve been taught and it keeps safety top of mind.
Get your workers involved and invested. Put together a safety committee that
includes employees from all levels of your business. They should be involved in
reviewing and updating your company’s safety program, crafting jobsite-specific safety
plans during the preconstruction phase of each project and helping identify potential
hazards and safety concerns.
Create a corrective action plan with input from employees. Make sure all workers are
aware of the plan to ensure it is properly executed and enforced.
Assemble an accident response team for each jobsite made up of a few employees who
have some basic first aid training. They should know what steps to take in the event an
injury occurs to mitigate any existing hazards and administer first aid to injured workers.
Workers who are involved in the process of building and improving your safety culture
will feel invested and are more likely to take safety seriously. They are also more likely
to communicate their concerns if they feel their input is valued.
Hold everyone accountable. Everyone who steps foot on the jobsite is responsible for
safety, not just your safety managers and those in charge. Workers should know that
unsafe practices put not only themselves in danger, but those around them. Make sure
safety rules are clearly defined and explained to everyone on the site and that the
consequences for failing to follow the rules will be strictly enforced.
You should also empower employees to speak up and report unsafe conditions, near
misses or coworkers failing to follow safety protocols. Everyone on the site should have
the power to order a work stoppage to address and correct any safety issues.
Reward the good, correct the bad. Use incentives to reward workers for adhering to
safe working practices, attending safety meetings, wearing personal protective
equipment (PPE), reporting near misses, making suggestions to improve safety and
reporting unsafe conditions or hazards.
Be careful about relying on an incentive program that rewards workers for going so
many days without an accident or injury, as it could lead to underreporting. By
encouraging and rewarding workers for their proactive approach to safety will result in
fewer accidents and injuries.
Conduct daily site inspections and safety meetings. Jobsites should be inspected
before and after each workday to address any safety concerns such as tools left lying
around or damaged equipment. Jobsites should also be inspected throughout the day to
identify any potential hazards and monitor workers to make sure they are working
safely.
Hold a brief safety meeting before work begins each day to go over what tasks are
scheduled to be performed along with the safety procedures to be followed. Be sure to
address any concerns or issues and acknowledge the good practices observed from the
prior day.
Good or bad, your company already has a safety culture, but there’s always room for
improvement. Having a rock-solid safety culture means making the commitment to put
safety first. Instituting programs and procedures that reinforces that commitment takes
time, employee engagement and making adjustments to improve.

SOURCES:

https://www.safeopedia.com/definition/3970/construction-safety

http://www.mmp.ie/the-importance-of-health-and-safety-in-construction/

https://www.constructconnect.com/blog/construction-safety/6-ways-improve-construction-companys-
safety-culture/
JALAL B. MIRA-ATO

DEFINE SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION

Construction sites are dynamic activities where workers engage in many activities that may expose them
to a variety of safety hazards, such as falling objects, working from rooftops or scaffolding, exposure to
heavy construction equipment, or the use of temporary electrical circuits while operating electrical
equipment and machinery in damp locations. That’s why safety is number one priority in all
construction. Safety is always needed by every employees, by ensuring every machinery, workplace,
facilities and equipments are all safe for an employee to use.

IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION

When working with a construction services company, on-site safety probably isn’t one of your initial
concerns. However, construction management professionals are quick to point out that maintaining a
safe work environment is essential for the successful completion of your project.

The fact of the matter is that adhering to safety regulations is an absolute must. Construction work is
inherently dangerous, with collapsing materials, falls, and accidents involving heavy machinery all
serving as a legitimate threat.

When an accident occurs, myriad problems can result. Working days are lost, which can delay the
completion of key project tasks. If a visitor to the worksite is injured, the construction company or even
the owner of the property could be faced with a costly lawsuit. If a severe incident occurs, the entire
project could be brought to a halt due to damaged materials and equipment.

Because of this, construction management professionals play a crucial role by identifying potential
safety hazards and taking proper steps to avoid an accident. Ensuring that everyone on-site is following
basic safety protocols won’t just allow the project to be completed on time and on-budget—it also
protects the lives of each person involved in the work.

WAYS TO PROMOTE AND MAINTAIN SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION

1. Awareness
Before any worker — no matter his or her role or experience level — can set foot on a

construction site, he or she must be fully cognizant of the possible hazards. Ignorant

workers are perhaps the biggest dangers in any industry, as their unknowing mistakes

put everyone else at risk. Understanding of perils at hand and sustaining a perpetual
state of alertness is perhaps the number-one best way to prevent accidents. See OSHA

Safety Check Lists.

2. Training
Though most of a construction worker’s skills can be gained on the job, safety is one skill set

that is best learned before works enter the construction site. The Occupational Safety and

Health Administration (OSHA) and other organizations publish some resources to help

businesses train their new laborers on standard safety and security practices, including

pamphlets, worksheets, training videos, and even on-site training opportunities. Experienced

workers should be expected to refresh their knowledge of standard safety by attending regular

training sessions throughout the year.

3. Communication
Accidents are more likely to occur when workers are unsure what to expect. Direct

communication regarding the day’s goals and activities will cut down on surprises that could

cause bodily harm. Construction firms would be wise to equip workers with devices, like

smartphones or headsets, which allow fast and efficient communication among team members.

4. Documentation
There are some legal hoops most construction companies must jump through to begin building,

and it is essential that all proper registrations and licenses are earned before work begins.

Supervisors and contractors who will be charged with particularly difficult tasks, like blasting,

certainly should provide evidence of their certification well in advance of their employment on
the job site. Not only does this prevent accidents due to improper training, but it protects the

construction firm from legal action and public scrutiny. Also, documenting all work in the field

using cloud and mobile technologyis making it easier than ever before to mitigate future

lawsuits.

5. Proper Equipment
Construction workers equipped with improper gear are bound to make fatal errors. Not only

should each piece of equipment on the job site be ideally suited to the task at hand, but

construction firms must make certain that all machinery and material are well maintained.

Construction companies must also consider equipment that doesn’t directly contribute to the

construction project. Workers should have plenty of water on-site as well as a shady place to

prevent dehydration and exposure-related illnesses. Longer construction projects may even

benefit from fabric structures to store equipment and cover incomplete sites.

6. Supervision
Ideally, construction workers would fully understand the ramifications of inadequate safety

precautions and thus act in a manner to ensure site-wide well-being — but this is not a perfect

world. Every site must have a strong supervisor who is willing and capable of enforcing safety

standards with no exceptions. This foreman must keep tabs on all employees throughout the day

and correct those who fail to commit to proper safety procedures.

7. Innovation
The accident rate would be even higher than it is today if it were not for construction firms

willing to devote extra resources to keep their employees safe. The development of new practices

that will enhance security should always be encouraged, and companies should avoid speaking

against legislation aimed at improving safety protocols. Perhaps with enough innovation, all

construction sites can be 100 percent accident-free.

8. Transparency
The worst thing any construction firm can do for its reputation is attempting a cover-up. Hiding

accidents from the press and the public not only lowers the opinion of a single endeavor — it

paints the building industry as a whole in a negative light. Ultimately, people understand that

accidents happen, and as long as contractors are doing their best to foster a safe environment for

their workers, any accidents that do occur will only contribute to the growing need to augment

modern safety techniques. Transparency, along with the other seven practices on this list, will

help construction as a whole become a safer industry in which to work.

SOURCES:

https://ehs.princeton.edu/workplace-construction/construction-safety

https://www.campbell-construction.com/news/importance-safety-construction-site

https://esub.com/improve-construction-site-safety/