Staying Safe: How to avoid putting yourself at risk on the job

​Working in construction you are surrounded by risks. Safety has to be the top priority when surrounded by possible dangers, from the use of high powered tools to heights and falling risks. Preventing risks is essential to a positive working environment.

Risk Assessments – Knowing what and where danger is lurking

​With every new job a site manager must undergo the process of filling out a comprehensive risk assessment. This is key in outlining potential risks and allowing workers to understand how to prevent risk while on the job. There should also be time put aside for regular follow up reviews to make any necessary updates to the assessment.

PPE – The Importance of protecting yourself from the moment you get on site.

When I hear PPE, I think of Covid masks and lots of hand sanitizer. But in construction there’s a lot more to it.

PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment; use of correct PPE can minimise the high numbers of accidents reported at job sites each year.

There are three areas of potential exposure that PPE can protect your body from;

The Skin, the Respiratory System and the Eyes. If hazardous materials enter the body through these areas, it can cause long lasting damage such as dermatitis, going blind or even lung cancer.

​-Correct footwear. Many job sites have their own specific guidelines that mandate the use of safety boots. Some steel-toed boots can withstand 75 pounds of falling weight from objects falling from up to three yards away. -Gloves. Hand injuries are among the most common and expensive one can sustain on a construction site. Not only can it incapacitate a worker for up to a week which can cost a company up to £5,100 but the more severe can have long lasting effects on hand dexterity. -Safety Goggles. Though they can look terrible, goggles are imperative to protecting the eyes from potential hazards such as chemicals, acids, dust and many more. The eyes are regarded as the most valuable sensory organ and so preventing blindness should be a priority. -Hard Hat. On nearly every construction site you will see a flurry of yellow hard hats and there is a clear reason why. Damage to the head can be fatal and so hard hats are used to protect the head from flying objects, collision impact and shock among other possible dangers.

Tools – preventing illness and encouraging wellbeing

Working on site you are surrounded by potentially dangerous tools however there are a few tools that are imperative to safety.

With risks to respiration and falling, a few tools are needed on site to keep all workers happy and healthy.

​-Respiratory Protection. It can be as simple as wearing a mask; one that can filter out dust and other airborne hazards. Or you can take it one step further by using dust extractors, this tool filters dust out of the air as you work which lessens the chance of you breathing it in. -Falling Protection Systems. When suitably trained the use of fall protections can be very helpful onsite. The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) outlines a helpful guide on how to be completely safe when using and inspecting this piece of equipment. With the use of any tool regular inspection is vital in alerting workers to any faults. Electrical tools with high voltages can injure or even be fatal. Taking the extra time to check the tools could literally save your life.

Working in wet conditions – rain, rain, go away

Living and working in the UK comes with a whole set of new challenges, one being the repetitive inclement weather. On one day alone you can see several different weather patterns which can change working conditions very quickly.

From a down pour to high winds, weather has a direct link to increased risk.

​Workers health is at the centre of safety measures, even something as a small as developing a cold can have a direct impact on morale and subsequently the quality of work. To help prevent these risks one of the first steps is providing workers with the necessary skills to identify weather related hazards and how to process a response to minimise risk. As well as equip them with the correct waterproof clothing to help protect the body from the cold – no one wants hypothermia on the job. The site manager should also have a place for workers to take shelter – a work bench on solid ground not exposed to the outside elements. Also making sure workers take time to have a cuppa can be really beneficial and aids in raising spirits.

Checklist – things to check before going on site

​~ Has the risk assessment been completed, and do I have access to it? ~ Do I have the right PPE for the job?  ~ What specified tools will be needed?  ~Check the forecast and ask the site manger about any concerns.