What Makes Falls the Deadliest Risk on Construction Sites?
The construction industry is a risky business to work in. Lots of injuries happen to people who fall from great heights, or get hurt on equipment. In fact, slip and falls cause as many as 40% of industry related fatalities.
Kinds of Hazards
Many hazards which can cause a fall on a construction site include unprotected edges, unstable surfaces, ground holes and loose materials. Falls may also occur when workers do not have the proper safety gear, or they are not working in a safe manner.
The most effective approach to prevent falls is to recognize and address hazards on a construction site.
This could be accomplished with occasional safety checks and safety regulations all workers must adhere to. In addition to that, issuing workers with adequate safety training and gear would greatly lower the propensity to falls.
Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS)
PFAS has harnesses to prevent construction workers working at six feet or more above the ground from being seriously hurt or killed.
It’s also worth noting that safety gear is situation-dependent. In many cases the victims in fatal accidents were not provided with adequate safety equipment for the work they were managing.
To protect these workers, employers have to supply the workers with fall protection and the right equipment for the job or the situation, including the right types of ladders, scaffolds and safety equipment. Simple precautions can help alleviate falls and save lives.
Educate all workers about the risks and potential hazards at a work site, and how to avoid them. But when all is said and done, even the best PPE and the best job conditions in the world won’t protect construction workers if they aren’t used properly.
Bad training is another of the leading reasons workers get injured or killed. Besides having the correct safety equipment, construction workers must be trained to use equipment. OSHA shares these tips for ladder, scaffold and roof safety as well as these safety materials and resources for employers to train their employees to recognize fall hazards.
Safety Culture is Important Too!
When it comes to preventing falls on construction sites, much of the attention is on the workers themselves. But it’s also crucial to foster a culture of safety on the job site.
One way to achieve this is by holding weekly safety meetings. During these meetings, you can discuss the fall hazards on your job site and the steps you can take to prevent them.
You might also do a sanity check of your safety policies and procedures, ensuring everything is aligned. One other strategy for enhancing fall prevention is to establish a reporting mechanism for near-misses and accidents. That way, you can see what might trip someone up before it does an injury.
Finally, it’s crucial for workers to be empowered to say if they see something is unsafe. You can work to make your job site safer for all by offering an open line of communication.