Construction sites can pose a number of hazards to workers. These are typically busy environments in which a wide range of equipment, supplies and machinery are in constant use.
It is essential that site managers are trained in the latest health and safety procedures and that they have an organised approach. This will help to ensure safety and construction guidelines are met and that any risks to site workers and visitors are minimised. There are a number of key aspects to effective site organisation that all site managers need to consider.
Traffic Management
Construction sites may require the movement of waste, materials, people and equipment. To achieve this, vehicles may need to be used on-site. Moving vehicles can represent a hazard to workers and visitors if left unmanaged.
Improvements in health and safety have made working on building sites much less risky in recent years. However figures still show that as many as seven people are fatally injured on construction sites every year as a result of accidents involving moving vehicles and plant machinery. You need to organise and manage safety and construction traffic so that pedestrians and vehicles can move around easily and without risk.
Protecting the General Public
Many construction sites are in highly populated areas such as housing estates and city centres. This means that construction site managers and site officers will need to ensure they are conducting their business without putting the general public at risk.
It is essential that proper boundaries exist to restrict access to construction sites. This will help to prevent unauthorised people from accessing the site at any time of the day or night. Scaffolding will need to be managed carefully and steps must be taken to prevent the risk of tools or materials falling outside of the site boundary.
Material and Waste Management
Construction sites need to be kept organised when it comes to equipment, materials and waste. This helps to reduce potentially hazardous clutter and improve productivity. Good housekeeping on site will include the proper storage and disposal of materials and waste products.
Although slips, trips and falls may seem like trivial incidences they can result in serious injury. This can have a financial impact on projects through sick absences or personal injury claims.
Keep your construction site tidy and keep materials and equipment stored safely out of the way when not in use. Dispose of waste materials properly and remove them from site as soon as possible to prevent unnecessary clutter.
You can also help to reduce the amount of wastage on site by storing and managing supplies effectively; this could make a big difference to your bottom line.
Related Courses
- Working at Height courses
- NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction Certificate
- NEBOSH International Construction Certificate
- Construction NVQ
- CDM courses
- Contractor Management
- Construction and engineering courses
- Contractor Management course
- Asbestos courses
- Abrasive wheel courses
- NVQ Health and Safety
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