Disaster Prevention: 7 Tips On How To Prevent Construction Workers From Falling
Construction companies mitigate risks and assess the workplace needs on an ongoing basis. Risk mitigation is the best practice for reducing the potential for accidents and injuries. It prevents disasters and keeps all workers safer. These seven tips offer sound advice for construction businesses and show better ways to protect workers.
- Adding a Protective Barrier Around the Edges
With an Edge Protection System, the construction company stops falls around high edges and keeps workers safe during high rise projects. The edging provides bars and rails installed around the entire work area to stop workers from falling from higher stories. The right system could reduce the risk of injuries and fatalities during these dangerous projects.
- Use Scaffolding Properly
Using scaffolding properly protects workers at greater heights. The company must present a safe way to get onto the scaffolding and cover it with walking boards according to OSHA regulations.
Experts recommend using metal scaffolding since it is more effective and durable. The owner must use guardrails around the scaffolding to protect their workers and decrease the risk of falls. Companies must identify maximum weight restrictions for the scaffolding to prevent it from collapsing with workers standing on it.
- Test All Ladders for Damage and Issues
According to OSHA regulations, construction companies must provide workers with safe equipment for completing their job duties. Defective ladders could increase fall risks and cause more injuries. Foremen should review and inspect the ladders before allowing workers to use them. At the first sign of damage or defects, the company must replace these ladders with safer options.
- Assessing Hazards Continuously
Supervisors and foremen must assess the workplace for hazards on a continuous basis. Slip and fall accidents are increased if the companies do not continue risk mitigation throughout the project. In the work environment, there are several hazards that could increase falls. Slippery materials, compromised structures, and power cords from tools could lead to a fall. Risk mitigation practices cannot stop at any time during the project.
- Testing Roofing and Flooring Damage
Construction companies that are completing services inside a property or roofing services must test the roofing or flooring. These installations could cave in and cause serious injuries. By testing these structures ahead of time, the workers are at a decreased risk.
- Enforce Helmet Requirements for Workers
All construction workers working where falling objects are possible must wear helmets. The helmets provide head protection and decrease the risk of injuries. Head injuries are a common cause of high falls, too. By providing proper personal protective equipment, construction workers are protected against head injuries.
- Test All Harnesses Before Use
Harnesses are used to reduce the risk of falls from great heights. By wearing a harness, the workers won’t fall, and the harness holds them safely until the scaffolding is put back into place. If the harnesses are defective, the workers could fall because the harness failed. Construction companies must test these safety devices and ensure they work properly.
Construction companies are required by OSHA regulations to provide a safe work environment for their workers. The owners must have all safety equipment tested frequently and replace any equipment that is faulty.
Any failure to protect the workers properly increases the risk of serious accidents and liabilities for the business. By following tips for improved safety, workers won’t fall, and the risk of injuries and fatalities decreases dramatically.
