Safety Articles

With construction ranking as one of the most dangerous professions, safety should rank high on the minds of those in the industry.

Many of the most important safety practices for construction workers come easily to those who have received a proper education on the subject, but for those who haven’t had that opportunity, here are 5 tips to keep construction sites as safe as possible.

1. Utilize a Safety Checklist

The first step in ensuring construction site safety is taking stock of all the components. This kind of checklist will draw attention to items of importance – from equipment and electrical elements, to hazard communication.

Knowing all of the components involved in a project allows workers to be conscious of how to work on the site, while keeping aware of any potential risks. A checklist helps to ensure a smooth and safe project goes underway every step of the way.

2. Follow a Lockout/Tagout System

Those who have worked in construction for any length of time are likely very familiar with lockout/tagout. This system requires that equipment or machinery be properly disabled while maintenance occurs.

Following this kind of procedure ensures workplace safety in a number of ways, particularly in terms of electrical work. It is vital as electrocution is a common culprit for construction injury and even death.

3. Check Scaffolding

Scaffolding is one of the most common hazards on construction sites, due largely to the fact it is so commonly used and it can so easily be installed or maintained improperly if workers are not properly trained.

Equipment can shift, crack or be altered in an unsafe way during use, resulting in compromised safety. Scaffolding should be regularly inspected for any components that may have been compromised during the course of the job.

4. Wearing Proper Personal Protective Equipment

This may seem like a no brainer, but many workers will skip on wearing proper personal protective equipment for the sake of comfort, convenience or a simple lack of time and this can be a dangerous game of cutting corners.

The hazards are different on every site, so discretion and wherewithal are necessary. The need for everything from safety glasses and steel-toed boots, to hard hats, should be respected and followed in order to ensure workers’ safety.

5. Only Operate Machinery if Properly Licensed

Most people who have spent a good portion of their careers in construction understand the importance of only operating equipment if they have received the proper training.

The issue with taking on a piece of machinery when not trained is that a worker can make a mistake without having any idea that they are even making it, resulting in disaster.

For more info about the construction safety training that Construction Safety Experts offer, check out our list of safety training and risk management services.

It is impossible to encompass every important safety consideration in a short space, so suffice it to say that proper education for all workers is the most effective precaution possible.

Let Construction Safety Experts help ensure that your workers receive the proper training, contact us today or call (866) 463-0669.

Heavy equipment operator training is a must for any workplace that uses heavy equipment. Offering training on the right topics and at the right levels is crucial to making sure your employees are equipped to do their jobs safely. Unfortunately, there is some jargon used when describing heavy equipment training that might make it difficult for you to determine which type of training is right for you or your workers. Read on to learn about five terms you may encounter when researching this type of training.

5 Heavy Equipment Operator Training Terms You Should Know

• Heavy Equipment: Heavy equipment is a broad term for many different types of machines that are used in construction, mining, and industrial workplaces. Therefore, heavy equipment training involves training in safely operating cranes, drills, pumps, compressors, bulldozers, front end loaders, backhoes, graders, and other large and potentially dangerous pieces of equipment.
• Heavy Equipment Operator: A heavy equipment operator is an employee who operates heavy equipment. This employee must have the training and certification necessary to operate such machinery safely. Heavy equipment operator training provides the skills your heavy equipment operators need to ensure your workplace is safe and productive.
• OSHA 10 and OSHA 30: Construction Safety Experts offers an OSHA training course that covers a variety of workplace safety topics, including training in heavy equipment operation. OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 are a part of this program. These two seminars are designed to provide an overview of the topics most important to workplace safety. OSHA 10 is a ten hour seminar most appropriate for entry level employees, while OSHA 30 is a more in-depth program that gives managers and supervisors a deeper understanding of safety topics.
• MSHA Training: Heavy equipment operators working in mining environments require special training to fully understand the intricacies of safe operation in their workplace. MSHA training ensures that heavy equipment operators in mining environments meet the educational requirements set out by the United State’s Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration. This training covers part 46 & 48 of MSHA’s requirements for surface training, as well as hazard awareness training, new miner training, annual refresher training, and more.
• AISC Certification: AISC Certification is a program run by the American Institute of Steel Construction. Businesses who are AISC certified have passed a rigorous initial evaluation that proved their steel fabrication and erection process meets the AISC’s standards. Well-trained heavy equipment operators are an important part of meeting these standards.

 

Great heavy equipment operator training is vital to creating a great workplace. By being familiar with the training resources available to you and your workforce, you can ensure your site or workspace is safe for everyone involved.

 

You know that a safe workplace is a productive and successful workplace. In most cases, creating a culture of safety and implementing the standards and practices to ensure a secure work environment isn’t something you can do on your own. Safety consulting firms take that burden off your shoulders, ensuring your workplace is safe so you can focus on other areas.

How Safety Consulting Companies Can Ensure a Safe Workplace

1. Safety Consulting Firms Don’t Have Ulterior Motives: When you hire a professional consultant from an outside safety consulting firm, you’re hiring someone who won’t be bogged down by your past safety record or influenced by your company’s internal affairs. An outside consultant won’t be motivated to make your company look good: instead, they’ll only be interested in making your workplace safe.

2. Safety Consulting Firms Bring Fresh Eyes to Your Workplace: Working in the same space day after day makes it easy to fail to see potential problems. To a professional from a safety consulting firm, however, small safety issues stick out. Having fresh eyes and ears in your workspace eliminates all of those little issues that even in-house safety managers can accidentally overlook. When those fresh eyes and ears belong to someone experienced in workplace health and safety, a comprehensive and effective plan to address these issues will soon follow.

3. Safety Consulting Firms Provide Specialized Knowledge: Are you or your in-house safety manager up to date with the current industry safety regulations in your field? Do you take time off to attend seminars and stay informed about the most recent research? A professional safety consultant does. Working with a safety consulting company makes sure you’re taking advantage of the most up to date information available.

4. Safety Consulting Firms Improve Employee Morale: Hiring a safety consultant sends your employees a strong message: you care about their wellbeing. Employees who feel that management is committed to keeping them safe are less likely to cut corners that can cause accidents. A professional safety consultant provides training and education that will benefit your employees both in and potentially outside the workplace, improving morale and loyalty, increasing safety, and reducing accidents that can interfere with productivity.

Safety Consulting Firms Help Create a Safe Workplace

Hiring an outside safety consulting firm can help ensure that your workplace is safe. At Safety Xperts, your workplace’s safety is our number one concern. Get in contact with us to learn more about how we can help you build an environment that is focused on safety.

There is a lot to be learned from live safety training from construction experts who have the the expertise needed by your workers and the equipment they use. Sitting down to look at a video before tackling a job lacks all of the customization that impact safety and productivity. On-site safety training goes beyond the basics to provide the hands-on preparation that allows employees to find the best solution to any obstacle along the way.

Live Training Will Expand Workers’ Horizons

On-site safety managers with the expertise to use the equipment that is specific to the job can demonstrate the proper use for better understanding. The opportunity will also give all workers the advantage of hearing other workers’ questions and become aware of potential problems and the appropriate solutions before they become an issue for them. The top 5 benefits of having safety managers on-site are:

1. Maintaining Awareness of Modern Equipment and Procedures – New equipment, procedures and standards are frequently being introduced. Safety managers with the most current information can provide information to workers that is relevant to the project.
2. Opportunity for Hands-On Learning – Auditory learners get more from a verbal demonstration while others are hands-on learning. The expert safety managers can address individual questions and explain things in a way that makes it easy for them to understand.
3. Unified Focus – Problems with getting a training video online, interruptions from other people, and other distractions are virtually eliminated so workers get more from the training time.
4. Project-Specific Training – On-site training will address the specific situations of a project that are important to safety.
5. Better ROI – Live training has repeatedly proven to get better results, increase productivity, and give companies a better return on their investment.

Onsite Safety Professionals for Your Specific Project

Construction Safety Experts works to match their safety managers with your company and your project to get the best results. The right safety personnel will improve the progression of your project while keeping your workers safe.

 

Project Safety Managers for Short or Long-Term Work

Any company that relies on contracted labor for short or long-term projects can benefit from hiring contractor safety managers with the expertise in their industry to secure a safe workplace.

To ensure workers are safe and productive, project safety managers should oversee the factors that go into the safety plan at every level of the job. Safety Experts offers risk assessment, safety training, and safety consulting for various industries, and their customized solutions include providing the right contractor safety managers for on-site safety training to your contracted labor.

How Your Company Can Benefit from Project Safety Managers

Recruiting the right people for the job is just the first step in getting the fastest, most efficient results from any construction team. The safety training they receive from the contractor safety managers will reduce the risk of accidents during the course of a project by identifying risk factors that could result in falls or other accidents. The best time to identify problems is before it goes into the development stage.

The training and management provided by our project safety managers will have a far-reaching impact that will:

•        Increase Productivity – Increase the confidence in your contracted labor for your project by establishing a strong safety program. An established safety plan will increase contractor morale and boost productivity.
•        Reduce Insurance Rates – Insurance companies typically base premiums on risk. With a well-established safety plan that is put in place by professional contractor safety managers, you may receive significant discounts to your company and contractors.
•        Improve Your Image – A good safety program will improve your image and help build your reputation as a reputable company.

Contractor Safety Managers Offer Ongoing Training and Advice

The project safety managers from Safety Experts work with you throughout the project, regardless of whether it is a short-term project or one that is ongoing. They are always close by to provide workers with the tools and advice needed to make safety a priority that never gets overlooked.