SAFETY TIPS FOR THE NEW CONSTRUCTION WORKER
Mark Brandon is a regular contributor to the Safe and Sound Property Inspections blog and other home improvement sites where he shares his expertise with like-minded peers. In this article, he offers some tips for the new construction worker to stay safe on the job site.
Taking on a new job involves getting up to speed on all aspects related to the work that will be done on a daily basis. Similarly, a construction worker who has just arrived at the job site will need to get his/her bearings when it comes to the ins and outs of his/her duties. Chief of these concerns is getting a full picture of the safety requirements that need to be observed on the job. Listed here are some of the most important matters that every new worker at a construction site should know.
Work Hazards
A new construction worker’s first order of business at the job site is to inquire on the work hazards that come with the job and obtain safety tips and information on how to work around these risks. Employers are required by law to inform construction staff about such hazards, which can include exposure to chemicals, noise, and radiation, working at heights, and operating high-powered equipment and heavy machinery. Also, it is within a worker’s legal rights to be provided safe working conditions. Workers should be issued protective gear and have safety measures in place on site. Some measures to control emergencies that may arise from work hazards on site include fire extinguishers, first aid kits, etc.
Safety Training
Employers are also legally required to ensure that workers are skilled or have adequate training in performing their tasks safely. If a worker is not yet up to snuff, he is thus required by law to work under someone who can provide training in the needed skills. Should this direct supervisor be called away from work, the worker in training should refrain from doing the tasks entirely himself/herself. Although it is possible to avoid workplace mishaps and the job easy to do, dropping everything until a full training or certification can be obtained is all in the construction worker’s best interest and a good rule of thumb to abide by. When a person’s field of work is a busy construction site, one can never be too careful. Besides, the law requires a worker to refuse work that he/she is not fully trained or certified for.
Emergency Protocols
When power tools, heavy machinery, hazardous materials, and heights are all combined into one workplace, workers should expect to deal with emergency situations. Given this, workers should ensure that the job site is equipped with measures to help them manage such situations. Among the circumstances that workers should prepare for on the field include fires, chemical spills, and injuries. They should know where the fire extinguishers and other emergency equipment are located. All workers should be briefed on what to do in such cases and must oblige their employers to provide them with the necessary protocols.
First Aid Information
When a worker is injured, they should have access to appropriate and well-equipped first-aid kits and services at the workplace. Employers are legally bound to deployan enough number of individuals trained in giving first aid on site, ready to respond to emergencies. Likewise, emergency contact information should be easily accessible in case of critical injuries. The law further requires a worker who gets injured at work to report the incident to the employer at the soonest possible time.
Safety Gear
Every construction site is strictly a hard-hat area. This means that all workers who report for work are required to put on protective gear and clothing. Protective gear include eye goggles, hard hats, face masks and respirators, and gloves. Workers should also wear safety boots, hearing protectors, reflective bibs,and, when needed, fire-resistant or hazmat suits. Since the use of safety gear is a must on the work site and an employer’s legal responsibility, employers may require workers to bring their own as a condition of employment.
Worker’s Responsibilities
Upon knowing the safety requirements of the workplace, it is now the worker’s personal and legal responsibility to take the necessary steps to protect his/her and co-workers’ health and safetywhile on the job.Such steps include cooperating with safety rules and other employer-imposed workplace policies. This also means observing common sense like not leaving working machinery unguarded, keeping pathways clear of obstructions, and moving with care around the work area.It is always a good idea to stay ahead of the pack by acquiring safety trainings and certifications.
About Mark Brandon:
I am a regular contributor to Safe and Sound Property Inspections blog and other home improvement sites. I’m very family-oriented and loves being in the shed or help my mates with their houses.
You can catch me via Google+ or Twitter: @MarkBrandon01
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