Accident prevention in construction: Everything you need to know

Introduction

While the construction industry is probably one of the fastest-growing sectors in terms of revenue and size, it is also uncertain. Any unexpected event or challenge can halt a smoothly running construction project. Out of all the issues that threaten the construction sector’s progress, on-site accidents probably take the topmost seat. Despite implementing so many safety methods and preventive measures, preventing these accidents has become quite tricky. Several causes of accidents in construction remain unidentified even after thorough inspection, which creates a gap in the prevention measures. On the other hand, many workers do not receive appropriate training and education on accident prevention, which has also become a significant hurdle.

That’s why learning about accident prevention in construction in depth is crucial for project managers, civil engineers, contractors, construction workers, and every other individual associated with the industry. Otherwise, safeguarding people and reducing the risks of on-site injuries and mishaps would become next to impossible. With this being said, we have crafted a detailed guide on construction safety rules and accident prevention methodologies that have proven to be most effective in recent times. 

Common Causes of Accidents in Construction

To prevent mishaps, one should know the significant causes of accidents in construction. Without this, it will not be easy to identify the issue from its root and make further prevention plans. Below, we have briefly mentioned a few events that pose a huge risk to everyone’s safety. 

1. The first and most important cause is an accidental fall from a significant height, which can cause physical injuries or even lead to death. From poor maintenance platforms to a lack of fall protection equipment, several practices can lead to these situations. 
2. Since several construction projects involve electrical work, hazards from handling open and live wires, electrocution, and faulty wiring can cause severe injuries to workers. 
3. The use of heavy machinery is also one of the major causes of accidents in construction, mainly due to mechanical failure, improper machinery handling, and lack of user training. 
4. Sometimes, workers digging out a trench can suffer from injuries due to the unstable ground collapsing all of a sudden. 
5. Wet or slippery floors, cluttered spaces, tangled wires, and other such issues can also cause workers to trip, fall, and injure themselves severely. 

Importance of Accident Prevention

Most people consider the safety of lives to be the primary focus of accident prevention in construction. While this is indeed true, implementing on-site safety isn’t just about protecting personnel working on the ground. Below, we have mentioned a few reasons to focus on accident prevention for different construction projects. 

1. With proper construction safety rules implemented, risks and injuries can be mitigated to a significant extent, thereby ensuring workers are safeguarded from events that could impart long-term mental illness or physical disabilities. 
2. Maintaining safety standards at a construction site is the key to remaining compliant with the stringent industry standards and regulations across every industry. 
3. Legal disputes can be easily avoided by paying attention to safety protocols, thereby reducing liability and proving due diligence. 
4. When workers are injured due to a lack of safety rules at construction sites, project owners need to bear the insurance costs and other compensations. This can be easily avoided by ensuring optimal safety beforehand. 
5. Also, safety rules will help prevent unexpected events that could delay the progress of the construction work, thereby helping to save money. 

Key Accident Prevention Strategies

Now that we have described the major importance of accident prevention in construction, we will focus on the strategies that have proven to be most effective in achieving this goal. This will help you understand the prominent gaps in the safety protocols and plans already implemented at the construction site and make the necessary adjustments. 

Comprehensive training about safety

All construction workers, contractors, project managers, and other professionals need to receive detailed training about on-site construction safety rules and protocols. These training sessions must cover both general safety aspects and protection against site-specific risks that are often overlooked. 

Use of PPE

PPE, or Personal Protection Equipment, is a full gear set that is given to every worker who is expected to deal with heavy machinery, tasks to be completed from a height, trench digging, electrical wiring and setup, and other such areas. PPEs usually vary based on their purpose, like insulating gear for electrical workers, padded equipment for labourers working at a height, and so on. 

Risk assessment with hazard identification

One of the major strategies for accident prevention in construction is risk assessment in detail and identification of all potential hazards that may arise in the future. From running safety audits periodically to conducting a thorough job hazard analysis, supervisors and project managers must focus on this aspect beforehand. 

Fall prevention with protection

When workers are expected to handle tasks from a height, proper fall protection systems should be installed, like guardrails, personal fall arrest systems, and safety nets. Also, ladders and scaffolds must be in an appropriate condition without any unstable parts. Any unprotected edges or openings on the floor should be covered well so that workers won’t suffer from any significant falls during their project. 

Site organization and housekeeping

One of the most important construction safety rules is site organization and housekeeping. In other words, areas with the most accident hazards should be kept free from clutter so that workers can move around easily. Similarly, raw materials should be stored properly rather than left exposed. Also, any waste generated from construction work should be disposed of properly and frequently. 

Essential Construction Safety Rules

Understanding the basic safety rules is imperative for effective accident prevention in construction. To this end, we have briefly listed a few rules that project managers and on-site supervisors should be aware of. 

• Every worker should wear personal protection equipment gear for any work that has significant hazards. 
• Heavy lifting of any material or object should be done carefully and with proper technique. 
• Guardrails and safety nets should be installed for fall prevention and protection.
• Since electrical hazards are one of the major causes of accidents in construction, proper handling and safety gear should be used.
• Material Safety Data Sheet should be used to monitor chemicals on the site. 
• Raw materials and construction machinery should be protected and handled properly based on weather changes. 
• Oxygen levels need to be monitored closely in confined places. 
• Proper excavation and trenching rules should be implemented for better accident prevention in construction. 

Site-Specific Safety Plans (SSSP)

With site-specific safety plans, project managers and supervisors can document everything related to safety protocols, risks and hazards, and other requirements specific to the concerned construction site only. The documents conjure up all the details customized according to the site, which is why SSSPs of different construction projects have significant differences between them. Some of the key components of SSSPs are:

• Project information
• Hazard identification
• Safety procedures and controls
• Roles and responsibilities
• PPEs
• Emergency procedures
• Training and induction
• Safety inspection and audits
• Incident reporting and investigation

The Role of Technology in Accident Prevention

Technology plays a significant role in accident prevention in construction, which is why project managers, contractors, and supervisors should pay attention to it. Here are a few ways in which advanced technical concepts can be implemented for hazard assessment and accident prevention. 

1. Smart helmets can monitor workers’ health metrics and immediately send out alerts in case of an unexpected situation. 
2. Location tracking can help supervisors notify workers of any hazardous zone based on their real-time locations. 
3. The use of drones can help in 3D modelling and mapping of the construction site through aerial surveillance. 
4. Building Information and Modeling can be used to propose a proper plan for safety protocol implementation. 
5. Construction robots can be used to complete tasks that are hard and hazardous for humans. 

Emergency Preparedness and Response

Preparing oneself to handle any emergency and increasing response efficiency is one of the major ways of accident prevention in construction. From proper hazard and risk assessments to the implementation of an Emergency Response Plan, several ways exist to achieve optimal safety and protection on construction sites. 

Conclusion

In this elaborate discussion, we have discussed accident prevention in construction, which will help you identify the major risks, plan proper safety methods, and remain compliant with stringent industry standards and regulations. Besides, proper safety protocol implementation will also help reduce financial losses and unexpected delays in the project and promote the well-being of all workers.

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