Did you know that the construction industry has the highest fatal injury rate among all the other industries? Failure to meet the proper safety measures can lead to unexpected accidents at a construction site. Road construction is a common type of project that most people are aware of since they encounter these on the streets and highways, both in rural and urban areas.
Summer is considered the most ideal roadwork season since the weather is warm and the roads are dry. It is also the time of the year when a lot of people travel for vacations and getaways, making road construction signs for sale online or in physical stores necessary to avoid any untoward accidents. Road construction projects are usually made with a transportation management plan anyway, and this plan always includes putting warning signs to alert motorists of the ongoing road construction.
In addition, construction companies and employees must have the following safety checklist to prevent accidents from happening.
1. Personal Protective Equipment
Wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a must for all personnel inside the work zone. Some common examples of PPE are hard hats and steel-toed boots. In terms of clothing, a worker must be wearing vests or jackets that are in neon or bright lime, yellow, or orange color. Wearing these will make workers more visible to drivers; therefore, avoiding collisions.
2. Proper Training
Safety officers or managers should properly train their employees in handling tools and in operating machinery. To ensure that all workers on the site are prepared to use any equipment, a certificate should be obtained as solid proof. The workers who will operate the machines will need to pass the training before a certificate is given. Furthermore, training sessions should be done only by experts.
3. Equipment and Tools Safety Checks
It is important that all equipment pieces should be inspected before workers start using them to prevent accidents and costly repairs. Take note that defective equipment is extremely dangerous, so inspections must be done regularly by health and safety officers.
4. Emergency Procedures
Accidents may happen anytime and there is a possibility that construction workers will not be able to avoid them. For this reason, it is crucial for all workers to be knowledgeable in emergency procedures such as first aid treatments for common site injuries. Site managers must always remind their workers to do a headcount before they start working and before they leave the premises.
5. Site Checks
Checking the work zone is also a significant thing to do for site safety officers. There are many possible hazards that could be present in a road construction area, and these could harm the workers. Mechanical, electrical, and fall risks (especially for bridge construction) are just some examples of site hazards. Site safety officers should check the site more frequently, so hazards and accidents will be prevented.
6. Traffic Control Plan
Separating workers from roads filled with vehicles is also an important thing to consider when it comes to safety. Putting barriers, buffer spaces, and warning signs are good security measures. Equipment and machinery must be used and positioned in a proper place where workers will not block the path. Workers must also know where the flow of the traffic is coming from, and there should be a clear sign for motorists to know that there are construction workers up ahead.
These are just six things every construction site manager should know about and prepare for in order to avoid accidents and injuries. Road construction is a risky job; therefore, it must be treated with utmost care and professionalism.