Construction’s Top 4 Hazards – Do You Know the Risks?
Construction sites are dangerous places to work. In fact, the injury rate for the construction trade is higher than the national average across all industries. Fortunately, when you have sufficient knowledge, preventing accidents is easier than you might think. Here are the four most common construction site hazards, along with some basic safety tips to help keep workers injury-free:
Falls
- Wear and use fall arrest equipment
- Install and maintain perimeter protection
- Cover and secure all floor openings and label floor opening covers
- Use ladders and scaffolds safely
Struck-By Objects
- Never position yourself between moving and fixed objects
- Wear high-visibility clothing near equipment and vehicles so that others can see you clearly
Caught-In/Between Accidents
- Never enter an unprotected trench or excavation that is five feet or deeper without an adequate protective system in place (trenches that are less than five feet may need a similar system as well)
- Make sure that a trench or excavation is protected either by sloping, shoring, benching or a trench shield system
Electrocutions
- Locate and identify utilities before starting work for the day
- Look for overhead power lines when operating any equipment
- Maintain a safe distance away from power lines and learn your area’s distance requirements
- Do not operate portable electric tools unless they are grounded or double insulated
- Use ground-fault circuit interrupters for protection
- Be alert to electrical hazards when working with ladders, scaffolds or other platforms
The spring construction season is right around the corner. Now is a great time to brush up on construction site safety and employ practices designed to minimize the risk of on-the-job accidents. To learn more about protecting your construction workforce, contact a VTC Insurance Group agent near you. Call 248.828.3377 or visit vtcins.com.
The above content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or legal device.
