Construction project sites can be very dangerous places to work. From dangerous equipment to hazardous work conditions, the potential for injury or loss of life. With approximately 1 in 5 worker fatalities being in construction in 2018, it’s important to practice safety in your construction work zone. It can be a matter of life or death. As a project manager or superintendent, here are some things to know.

Providing Safety Training

An old adage says that “chance favors the prepared.” You can lower the risk of an incident by making sure that all personnel are trained for every foreseeable hazard. For example, construction of a high-rise building should include safety training regarding fall protection, ladders and scaffolding. A project that requires workers to crawl through pipes or tight spaces should include confined space rescue training.

Outfitting Your Workers

Personal Protective Equipment or PPE should be your responsibility as a project leader. Workers should be properly equipped for the work to be done. Common PPE include hard hats, protective eyewear, steel-toe shoes and reflective outerwear. Similar to safety training, the PPE should be tailored to the work that needs to be done. Operators of loud power tools may also need noise protection. Don’t leave PPE solely up to your workers to provide.

Having a Safety Plan

The time to develop a plan should be well before an emergency takes place. You need to have a plan that is clearly communicated and understood by everyone before a situation arises. The plan should include best safety practices to be implemented in normal operations. Such a plan should also include emergency contact information for key staff as well as detailed procedures for an emergency.

When it comes to safety, you can lower the risk of a serious accident by being proactive and prepared. It is important to make sure all workers are trained with respect to site hazards and knowledgeable about the procedures outlined in a detailed plan. Be sure to provide the appropriate PPE to your workers. Everyone wins with safety.