It should be no secret that construction sites can be dangerous places. OSHA estimates that there are 12 fatalities on a construction site each day in the US. Even non-fatal accidents can be decimating to your project, crushing morale and adding heaps of paperwork to your workload. Learn about 4 of the most common construction site injuries and how you can prevent them.
1. Falls
Construction site falls account for over 35% of all on-the-job deaths. As you might expect, the key to preventing falls is proper fall protection. Harnesses and lanyards are lifesavers on the job site. It is imperative that your workers wear correctly sized harnesses, and it is crucial that they be checked before each and every use. Double self retracting and dual retractable lanyards are becoming the norm, as they ensure 100% tie off.
Double-checking harnesses can be a lifesaving precaution
2. Slips
Construction sites are laden with slippery and uneven surfaces, as well as surfaces covered with debris. These surfaces are the main culprits when it comes to slip-related injuries. Slips can be prevented by ensuring all your workers are wearing slip-resistant soles. Encourage your workers to fork up the extra money for quality and durable boots. Cheap boots often wear quickly and become slippery. In addition to buying safe boots, it’s important to clean mud and excess dirt off of soles when climbing ladders or scaffolding, as mud and dirt can turn non-slip soles into hazardous footwear.
3. Falling Objects
Head injuries can be caused on construction sites by falling objects, tools, and materials resulting in brain injuries, lacerations, concussions, and sometimes death. Hard hats are required on all job sites, but sometimes the importance has to be reinforced by supervisors. Additionally, equipment used in high places can be tied off with lanyards to prevent falls from causing injury to those below.
Any kind of elevated work requires extra caution.
4. Overexertion
Exhaustion, dehydration, and heat strokes are some of the most overlooked job site injuries, especially in the hot months. A few ways to prevent overexertion on the job site include:
- Teaching of proper lifting techniques
- Stressing the importance of hydration
- Making fluids easily accessible
- Taking regular breaks
At the end of the day, prevention for most of these injuries can boil down to common sense and awareness. Keep these prevention methods in mind and browse through our safety products to keep your construction sites safe and efficient all year long.
