Construction sites are known for being hazardous, but using safety gear, enforcing safety practices and minimizing dangerous exposure can reduce injuries.
No matter what industry a California worker is in, he or she has a chance of being hurt on the job. Because of the nature of the job, construction workers often face higher exposure to dangerous situations. According to Industrial Safety & Hygiene News, every year 1 in 10 construction laborers are injured while on the job. Unfamiliarity with the work may be a causing factor because 60 percent of these workplace injuries take place in an employee’s first year. Employers in the construction industry need to do what they can to reduce the risk their employees have while at work.
Implement safety gear
Workers should be given proper personal protective equipment for the job they are doing. Many construction projects require hard hats, hearing protection, gloves, masks, eye protection and slip-resistant, hard-toed boots to ensure the laborers are protected from the elements of a construction site. When working at a height, a person may need to use a harness to reduce the chance of falling.
Other potential safety gear that can be used to keep workers safe include reflective clothing and sun protection. This type of gear can make a person easily visible when working near a road or protect him or her from the damages caused by UV rays. Even signs warning of dangers can help keep people working at a building site safe.
Enforce safety practices
Employers also need to make sure their workers are participating in safety practices. While it may be tempting to encourage employees to work through breaks or stay for long days, the fact is that taking regular breaks can reduce the risk of injury. Supervisors may also want to implement other safety practices, such as warming up before doing physical activity, drinking plenty of water and attending safety meetings and trainings. With these safety practices in place, a person doing manual labor may have a better chance of staying uninjured while on the job.
Minimize hazardous exposure
If construction company owners want to reduce the injuries that take place at work, they need to understand what the common causes of accidents are and what they can do to minimize their workers’ exposure. Common causes of construction-site injuries include the following:
- Falling objects
- Trips and falls
- Machinery accidents
- Exhaustion
Once they know what these causes are, they have to do everything in their power to reduce exposure. This could mean keeping workers out of the noonday sun, maintaining equipment or removing tripping obstacles.
While all California residents could get hurt on the job, construction workers may have a higher risk. If an injury does take place on a construction site, it may be beneficial to work with an attorney who is familiar with this type of personal injury case.