Construction sites can be dangerous places to work and safety must be taken seriously. To ensure workers’ safety, employers must follow OSHA safety guidelines and implement proper procedures on construction sites. This includes providing training for construction workers, as well as conducting regular inspections to identify potential hazards. In this guide, we’ll highlight specific OSHA standards and common hazards. You’ll also read about construction safety practices for employers and workers.

Construction Site & Construction Worker Safety

Safety rules for construction workers are in place for a reason. Yet, every year, the safety aspects of a construction job are overlooked. And every year, life-threatening and even fatal accidents occur.
So, the need for construction workers is great, but the need for safety is equally great. These OSHA safety guidelines for construction sites and construction workers are part of the answer. Of course, it’s important to read comprehensive documentation from OSHA, but these five quick construction site safety tips are essential to know and follow:

1. Scaffolding

We begin our safety guidelines for construction sites with scaffolding standards. Over half of all construction workers find themselves on scaffolding. Exposure to falls, falling objects and even electrocution exist. Workers should follow general scaffolding safety procedures like wearing hard hats, non-skid boots and tool lanyards. They should never work on wet surfaces or use boxes/ladders atop scaffolding.

They should never exceed the maximum load. And they should never move tools as they’re entering or leaving scaffolding. Tools should never be left behind on a scaffold. Personal fall arrest systems should always be inspected.

2. Ladders

Next in construction site safety practices, ladders. One of the leading causes of falls is improper ladder use. Workers should maintain at least three points of contact during the time on a ladder. As they ascend and descend, both feet and at least one hand, or both hands and a foot, should be on the ladder while moving. Tools should be carried up and down inside a tool belt. Or you may opt to pull things up once you’ve stopped climbing.

Employers should ensure employees understand how and when to tie ladders off. A supervisor should inspect ladders daily and any defective ladders should be marked as such and unused until repaired. All ladders should be OSHA-compliant, including job-made ladders.

3. Fall Protection

Fall protection is one of the most essential elements in construction site safety guidelines. Employers must do a good job of ensuring proper fall protection systems. In 2020, there were 351 fatal falls to a lower level out of 1,008 construction fatalities. These deaths are preventable.

Workers should understand fall hazards in an area. All personal fall arrest systems should be inspected before use. Lanyards and lifelines should be used to keep workers from falling to the surface below.

Employers ensure that OSHA-compliant protection for working at heights safety is in place. This may include guardrails, safety nets and personal fall arrest systems. Confined space safety and excavation safety considerations are paramount if you are working holes or excavations. Falling objects should be considered as well.

Workers operating six feet or more above lower levels face a significant risk of serious injury or death from falls. To safeguard these workers, employers must provide appropriate fall protection and equipment tailored to the job, such as proper ladders, scaffolds and safety gear.

Always use the correct ladder or scaffold to complete the task safely. For roof work, if personal fall arrest systems (PFAS) are used, ensure each worker has a properly fitting harness to secure to the anchor point. Regularly inspect the PFAS to ensure it remains in safe working condition.

4. Head, Eye & Face Protection

Safety precautions during construction work must be taken when the head, eyes and face are at risk. Eye and face protection should be worn in cases where loose particles, molten metal, chemical liquids, gases or vapors are in the area. These usually occur when any welding, grinding, chipping, sanding, drilling, etc., is taking place.

Workers are required to wear head protection if they could potentially be struck in the head. This means that construction site workers should always wear head protection. This is especially critical to suspended load safety. Hard hats should be inspected for damage daily. They should fit on your head and never be loose as you’re working.

Employers are responsible for providing protection and they may not charge employees the cost of the protection. It should be kept in good condition; if it’s damaged, it should be replaced immediately.

5. Hazard Communication

We hope you’re already following proper safety procedures in construction. You probably know that hazard identification and communication are vital. In fact, the OSHA standard focuses on employers. Therefore, you should be aware of hazards in the workplace. Those that are often overlooked are silica, asbestos, lead, zinc, mercury, beryllium and dust.

Workers should be trained to understand Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). And they should always wear appropriate PPE when cleaning or handling chemicals or spills. Employers are required to generate and implement written elements of a hazard communication program. Specifically, all chemicals onsite should be recorded and tracked. Additionally, containers must be labeled as well. Moreover, there should be an MSDS for every substance. Furthermore, employees themselves should be trained to know risks and proper handling instructions.

Employers must adhere to OSHA safety guidelines and, most important, enforce robust procedures to safeguard workers. To emphasize, this involves providing thorough training and conducting regular inspections to spot potential hazards. In this guide, we’ll cover specific OSHA standards as well as common hazards, along with essential safety guidelines for employers and workers.

Ensuring construction site safety is paramount not only to protect workers but also to prevent accidents. Furthermore, adhering to OSHA guidelines, providing proper training and conducting regular inspections are critical steps toward maintaining a safe work environment. By following these safety practices, employers significantly reduce the risk of injuries and fatalities.

At ROI Construction Staffing, we prioritize the safety and well-being of our workers. If you need reliable and skilled construction professionals who adhere to the highest safety standards, contact us today. Together, we build safer and more efficient job sites. Contact our team to learn more about our services and how ROI supports your construction staffing needs.

About Resource Options Inc.

(ROI) is a full-service construction, design, environmental services staffing, and emergency response firm. We provide customized staffing solutions to clients servicing the built and natural environment. Recognized on five different occasions by Inc. Magazine as one of “America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies”, ROI was founded in 1998 by a group of experienced industry professionals. Our proven ability to deliver highly qualified candidates in a timely fashion has earned us the reputation as a true and lasting business partner with both clients and candidates. www.resourceoptions.com.