4 Key Equipment Upgrades to Make Construction Sites Safer

Construction sites can be exciting, fast-paced places to work, but without the proper equipment, these sites can also be dangerous. According to the most recent statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor, just over 4,800 workers were killed on the job in 2015, averaging out to about 13 deaths a day.

Fortunately, construction site owners can help prevent workplace injuries and deaths by making sure their equipment is as safe as possible. With this in mind, the following equipment upgrades can help make the job site safer for everyone who works there:

Heavy Equipment

As LovetoKnow.com notes, job site supervisors should check heavy construction equipment on a daily basis to make sure it’s in good working order. If equipment isn’t operating properly, it should be taken out of service until repaired or replaced. Backover accidents are not uncommon on noisy construction sites, so heavy equipment owners should consider upgrading to a loud reverse alarm system, ensuring workers and visitors are alerted when a backhoe, bulldozer or other equipment is moving backward.

Company Vehicles

Construction companies that require employees to drive company vehicles to and from job sites and appointments with clients should make sure these vehicles are also in good working order. In addition to ensuring the vehicles are serviced on a regular basis — and any issues a worker reports are fixed in a timely fashion — the tires should be routinely inspected for wear and tear.

If a company car’s tires are showing signs of cracks, low tread or other hazards, it’s time to replace them. Extra tires can be purchased ahead of time and stored in company buildings, or purchased online and delivered directly to a job site. All-season tires are a good choice in many areas, and can easily handle just about any driving conditions.

Hard Hats

All workers and visitors are required to wear a helmet whenever there’s a risk of being hit in the head while on the job site. As ConstructConnect.com notes, employers are responsible for providing their employees with head protection that meets consensus standards outlined by the American National Standards Institute.

These hard hats should be in good condition and must be replaced immediately if workers encounter an electric shock or are hit with something heavy. Even if hard hats look like they haven’t suffered any damage, they’re no longer safe to use when exposed to dangerous situations and should be discarded altogether.

Ladders and Scaffolding

When thinking about safety on a construction site, people often focus on the big, heavy equipment being used. But unsafe ladders and scaffolding are extremely dangerous and place workers at risk of severe injury or fatality.

In addition to inspecting any heavy equipment, a supervisor or other trained employee should carefully inspect any ladders or scaffolding before they’re used throughout the day. If a piece of equipment appears defective, make it a point to properly mark or tag it before taking it out of service until it can be replaced or upgraded.

Resources:

OSHA Construction Safety page.
National Center for Construction Education & Research.
NIOSH Construction Resources page.
Construction Safety signs and labels.
Forklift Safety signs and labels.
PPE signage.
Ladder and Scaffold safety signs.