How to Stay Safe on a Construction Site

Construction sites are often congested and chaotic places, with different people moving in different directions to accomplish various tasks. To protect yourself from injury or death on the job, stay on top of your own safety, as well as the safety of those around you, by following these construction site safety tips.

Always wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 

While there's no guaranteed way to stay safe on a construction site, there are certain safety measures that you can take. Wearing all personal protective equipment (PPE) is one of these measures. PPE should be always worn, especially if you work with power tools or heavy machinery. If your workplace requires helmets, goggles, steel-toed boots, and other such items for its workers, make sure you wear them—they can save your life.

Follow all workplace safety guidelines

Before you even start work, find out what safety precautions your company has in place. These can be sourced from the Site Safety Officer. You'll also want to follow all workplace safety guidelines and policies. This will help ensure that everyone on site is staying safe while working—and that you're not putting yourself at risk by doing something unsafe.

Be aware of hazards in your work area

It's important to stay alert, especially in areas where heavy machinery is being used. Try not to stand in front of heavy equipment when it's moving, because it may create flying debris or kick up dangerous dust and chemicals. A lot of work-related injuries happen due to employee negligence or disregard for safety rules. Many construction workers die each year from preventable accidents and hazards like falls, electrocution, and fires.

Watch out for slips, trips, and falls

Slips, trips, and falls can cause serious injuries. Construction sites are especially risky because they are full of equipment and tools that can be sharp or slippery. It's important to wear shoes with non-slip soles if you work in construction; also, be careful of wet floors, avoid putting tools on uneven surfaces, and make sure you aren't standing in water.

Get trained for your job before you start working

Construction sites are busy and noisy, which can make it difficult for workers to keep track of everything going on around them. The first thing you should do before taking any job on a construction site is to get trained for it. Not only does training ensure that you're physically prepared for working with heavy tools and materials, but it also familiarizes you with important safety procedures. From learning how to safely operate equipment like scaffolding, forklifts, and cranes, to understanding proper hand signals and where your first-aid kit is located—these are all extremely valuable lessons that can save your life one day.

Dealing with stress at work on a construction site 

Not only can stress cause people who work in construction to suffer physically, but it can also affect their quality of life. If you're feeling overwhelmed by stress at work, you might want to consider working with a therapist or coach. Coaches can help professional construction workers learn how to refocus their energy and skills when dealing with stressful situations. Construction-site safety coaches, for example, typically handle emergencies involving both psychological and physical health issues that occur on sites; they are trained in first aid and disaster response procedures.