The simple truth is that some jobs are more dangerous than others; they lend themselves to more accidents or injuries simply because of the nature of the job. Jobsites can be hazardous. Unfortunately, people do get injured on them. However, by taking the necessary steps to encourage safety in the workplace, you can do your part to lessen these risks, so let’s take a look.

Proper Training

First things first, all employees on the job site should have been trained properly. This is the best way to improve job site safety and reduce the rate of accidents and injury. There are a lot of different jobs going on at once on a job site, and only employees trained to do so should undertake any one task. While some employees might feel they have enough training, there is always more to be done. 

Competent Staff

Another way to encourage safety in the workplace is to ensure that your staff are competent. Common sense can be hard to come by sometimes but ensuring that all of your staff are competent in the tasks that they need to carry out can go a long way. For example, think about your hiring processes, are you advertising your jobs in the right place and using the proper tools to weed out applicants who aren’t the right fit. 

Act as a Role Model 

The behaviour that you exhibit on site can have a huge effect on those around you. If you indulge in unsafe working practices, cut corners or put yourself at risk, then other people will think it is okay to do the same. Instead, you should always do your best to lead by example; other people will then take the cues from you to do the same. If you want to encourage jobsite safety, you first have to ensure that you are embodying the same values that you wish to impart.

Use the Right Equipment

Some jobs are made more dangerous when the proper equipment isn’t used. Think about whether there are any areas that are lacking the proper tools or equipment which would make performing certain tasks easier and safer. If you don’t provide the right tools, then you can’t be surprised that accidents are happening, whether you need to provide more protective wear or actual pieces of equipment or tools like the ones available from Cladding Mate. Either way, in doing so, you will find that the workplace becomes safer. 

In addition to using the right tools and equipment, you also need to make sure that they have been serviced and maintained properly. This ensures that they are in proper working order and therefore safe for your employees to use. Malfunctioning machines can be incredibly dangerous. Follow government guidelines and mandates to ensure that you are having them tested when necessary. 

Deliver Consequences

The way in which you react towards unsafe working practices will reinforce or correct the behaviour. If you say nothing, then the behaviour will continue; in fact, any other reaction than the delivering of consequences will likely result in recurrent behaviour. So make an effort to reward safe working practices, which in turn positively reinforces the behaviour and encourages those around to act similarly. At the same time, you should be punishing unsafe working practices; obviously, your reaction needs to be proportionate.

Signage

Posting signage around the job site can be incredibly helpful when it comes to encouraging workplace safety. However, despite best efforts, your workers are likely to forget from time to time. This is why it makes sense to post reminders around where you can. Unfortunately, on a job site, there aren’t as many opportunities to post these reminders as there would be in a factory, manufacturing facility or warehouse. That being said, there should be somewhere to post them, even if it is in the breakroom. You can also stake them into the ground if there are no walls to affix them to.

Look for Opportunities for Improvement

A lot of industries are continually evolving, including construction, new tools and methodologies continue to emerge. It is for this reason that workplace safety cannot be seen as stagnant itself. As the landscape changes, the need to update the safety practices becomes more apparent. Looking for ways to improve simply makes sense too. You could also open things up to the employees on-site and ask them for any suggestions they might have. 

Cleanliness is Key

Messy work sites can also lead to accidents. They increase the risk of slips, trips and falls, among other injuries. Try to encourage the employees to clean up after themselves, put tools away and generally keep the site as tidy as possible. 

To Conclude

Workplace safety should be a priority for all employers, regardless of the industry. Unfortunately, construction is an incredibly dangerous and hazardous, which is why encouraging safety on the worksite should be of the utmost importance. Take on board the above advice to ensure that your employees are being kept safe as much as possible.