Many individuals in our economy have a construction job, especially men. It is a type of job where you can get in easily if you have the right skills and experience. But construction work is also one of the most dangerous jobs in the world since the workers are exposed to hazards every workday. But, there are rules and policies that the workers need to follow to prevent work mishaps and accidents. It is called a construction safety policy.
A construction safety policy is a document containing a set of rules and regulations that needs to be followed for the welfare of workers. Construction is not an easy job. There are so many things to do on a construction site and not to mention the hazards that might cause accidents or injuries to workers if not handled properly. A statista report revealed that there was a total of 5,250 fatal work injuries back in 2018. A construction safety policy consists of work safety programs that are going to be conducted for the safety and security of the workers. Workers of a construction site must always be safe and away from harm since they are the foundation of a construction company, and without them, there would be no job done.
As we know, there are many hazards that can be found in a construction site. So, here are some needed things to do or have so a worker can be safe from potential harm:
All workers always need to wear protective gear such as helmets and gloves so that they have protection against falling debris and sharp objects. It is a mandatory rule that the company must provide PPEs to its employees because protective equipment can prevent hazardous objects from inflicting severe injuries to a construction worker.
Safety Signs must be placed all over the workplace for the benefit of employees and the public. It helps people to be aware that there are dangerous things that they must avoid. As for the workers, it is a helping hand in determining which part of the construction site they should be wary of.
The company should conduct safety observations in the workplace so that immediate action can be taken when some risky behaviors or hazards can threaten the well being of workers. A safety observation can help spot the unknown risk factors that are in a construction workplace.
A site safety inspections and machine safety inspection must be conducted before starting the work operation. It is essential because it is how the workers are going to know that their construction equipment is safe to use, and the work area is void of any hazards that may cause harm to them.
Keep in mind that safety is always the number one priority. A construction safety policy can give protocols and guidelines to workers so that they can be safe amidst their work. There are many sample documents of a construction safety policy online. But if you want to create your own form, here are some steps and guidelines for you to follow in creating a construction safety policy:
In creating your construction safety policy, you must communicate with the workers so that you will know what steps you should take in developing a safety policy. Conduct meetings with your employees and ask questions about what should be improved in your work site. Workers can provide you essential information regarding work operations. It will give you insight into creating safety programs that will enhance the safety and security of the construction site.
When you have gathered the right data and information for your construction safety policy, it is time for you to choose or create safety programs that will enhance the safety and security of the workplace. You must know which programs to conduct so that you can immediately see how effective it is upon implementation. For example, you have tasked workers to submit a weekly report about their work operations so that you will know what to do to establish improvement. You can see its effectiveness when workers submit their weekly report, and it contains particular matters that need to be addressed immediately.
Upon developing a construction safety policy, there are going to be changes and additional work for your employees. It is essential that you state who is affected by the implementation of the safety policy and what are their duties upon implementation. You can have statements like, “ The forman shall report unsafe practices and equipment to his direct superior.” As you can see, it is a specific statement that addresses who and what is their responsibility.
Every worker must sign the construction safety policy. It means that they understand and will abide by the new rules and regulations mandated by the company. After all, it is created for the workers’ welfare so that they can be safe from work accidents and injuries. Failure to comply with the policies can lead to serious work reassignment or, worse, termination.
A safety inspector will conduct a safety inspection and observation. It is their responsibility, and they have the right skills and expertise to perform such operations.
A construction worker can earn up to $2000 monthly. The salary can still go higher depending on the company or the state a worker currently resides.
Yes, it is essential to have a construction safety policy. It is one of the effective ways of keeping secure environmental protection and safe occupational health for the benefit of workers and the company.
Being part of construction work means that you are exposed to various types of hazards. There are always going to be unpredictable situations that might inflict harm to a worker. That is why a construction safety policy is important because it provides safety rules that will prevent work mishaps and accidents from happening. It is how authorities maintain workplace safety by following the rules stated in the construction safety policy.
