Taking proper safety precautions is a serious concern in every commercial construction project. As every job presents unique hazards, it’s vital to prepare for anything that may arise and be willing to adapt and adjust to ensure the best safety practices.
At Venue Construction, we ensure safety in different ways, but today, we will expound on five standard safety practices for every residential and commercial construction project.Best Practices for a Safe and Efficient Commercial Construction Project
#1. Ensure Ladders and Scaffolding are Secure
Uneven ground can make ladders unsteady and even the sturdiest scaffolding fold. Over 4,500 construction workers fall from scaffolding each year, so it’s essential to take extra measures to ensure its stability. Scaffolding should be at least 10 feet from powerlines, and metal ladders should never touch or be near electrical wires or lines. It should be accessible via stairs or ladders and have handrails, mid rails, toeboards, and braces to keep it solid and safe. Scaffolding should also be able to hold four times its weight. Using the proper commercial ladders will support all workers’ weight and the material load at the required height.#2. Keep Construction Areas Free of Debris
Discarded materials, scraps, and debris can also be a safety concern for commercial construction projects. Debris can present a tripping hazard, so maintaining a clean work area and regularly removing leftover metal materials, lumber scraps, tools, and more is essential before moving on to a new project section. All stairways, hallways, and construction zones should be free of potential tripping hazards to limit the risks posed by forgotten boards, left-behind tools, and large equipment.#3. Plan Ahead
Planning is another critical way to ensure that commercial construction projects remain safe from beginning to end. Planning project protocol is the best way to prepare for potential hazards and ensure workers’ safety. With enough time before starting the project, workers can be briefed on safety guidelines and implement additional safety measures around the worksite. Also, the safety of pedestrians walking by or through the worksite is just as important. Project planning and organized safety protocols allow enough time to block off the worksite and ensure pedestrians won’t be too close and at risk of injury.#4. Preparing Staffing and Scheduling
Completing a commercial construction project on time is essential to the construction process, but having too many workers scheduled at once can present a safety issue. Extended work shifts for construction crews can also lead to mistakes and increase the risk of an accident. To avoid incidents, only schedule the necessary number of workers for one shift at a time. Everyone should be able to move about easily and not worry about too many people working on the same thing. When workers have an extensive shift, wait to schedule them for another long shift immediately after. These few scheduling and personnel protocols will prevent workers from getting tired and making dangerous mistakes.#5. Enforce Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Rules
Sometimes, workers can get relaxed about wearing their hard hats, gloves, and other Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). Construction crews may want to shed additional protective layers when working on something simplistic or when it gets hot. However, planning to brief all workers and staff on the importance of always wearing their gear on the worksite will set a high safety standard amongst team members. Also, providing adequate breaks throughout staff shifts is vital in helping team members uphold safety standards while on the worksite.
While taking off PPE may be tempting, ensure all workers always wear hard hats, gloves, slip-resistant work boots, eyeglasses, and masks when working with specific tools. Wearing PPE on worksites will help reduce the severity of injuries and may help prevent minor injuries.
Safety during a commercial construction project is crucial, as injuries can lead to delays, insurance complications, and loss of lives. Even when high temperatures make it enticing to remove protective layers or setbacks tempt management to overlook specific protocols, the risk of injury is not worth it.
