Every construction company has a responsibility to protect its employees and the public from potential hazards. For this reason, many must introduce traffic safety products to minimize accidents and injuries and support daily productivity.
If you are set to undertake a small or major building project, there are some steps you must take to keep staff, visitors, and pedestrians safe each day. Read this guide to preventing accidents on a construction site.
Keep Pedestrians and Vehicles Apart
Construction transport accidents can and do happen, which is why firms must keep pedestrians and vehicles apart as much as possible. For example, a construction site should provide a separate entrance and exit for automobiles and pedestrians.
Introduce road barricades to create a barrier between a busy road and a walkway on a construction site. For example, an urbanite pedestrian barricade will provide a clear and safe walkway to separate the public from passing cars and a dangerous work zone. Also, a construction team should routinely check the walkways to ensure obstructions don’t block pedestrian paths and force them onto the vehicle route.
Reduce Movements as Much as Possible
Construction firms must attempt to minimize movements on-site as much as possible. For example, you may need to reorganize a site’s layout to position the storage area close to the entrance, which will reduce footfall across the site and prevent the risk of an accident. Also, use one-way systems using a jersey-style barrier to improve safety, especially when it comes to vehicle usage on site, as it can prevent many collisions or injuries.
Block Access to Hazardous Areas
Most large and small construction sites will have various hazardous areas that will be off-limits to the public and some employees. A traffic barricade can block access to a room or area, ensuring only authorized personnel can enter and exit the dangerous environment when necessary. The barricade will serve as a clear visual and a physical obstacle, ensuring a person doesn’t step one foot into the space. It will provide peace of mind that all visitors, employees, and even trespassers are safe on-site.
Improve Visibility On-site
In addition to purchasing road barriers, safety cones, and other barricades to protect pedestrians and guide vehicle traffic, you must improve visibility on-site as much as possible. For example, introduce mirrors to prevent a vehicle blind zone, add signage to notify people of hazardous areas, and ensure all employees and visitors wear high-visibility clothing. Also, you may need to introduce exterior lighting in dull or dark walkways or areas, which might be vital during bad weather or once the sun has gone down.
Host Daily Safety Meetings
Senior management must have a daily safety meeting to discuss potential risks and how to reduce them at the start of each day. In addition to discussing staff members’ duties, you must identify possible hazards and the equipment needed to create a safer environment for employees and the public. Also, employees and managers must regularly communicate and act swiftly to prevent dangers from arising. What’s more, it is an ideal opportunity to discuss personal protective equipment (PPE) and ensure all staff members are wearing the appropriate attire.
Create Specific Work Areas
As mentioned, it is important to minimize foot and vehicle traffic as much as possible on a construction site. For this reason, use barriers, safety cones, and barrels to create designated areas for specific work zones, such as:
- Vehicle parking
- Heavy-duty equipment storage
- Material storage
- Safe environments for workers
Conclusion
Foot and vehicle traffic are major obstacles for most construction companies, as too much footfall, poor planning, and reversing trucks and forklifts can pose a risk on-site. Also, it is imperative to separate pedestrians from a hazardous environment or passing traffic to ensure they remain safe when passing building work.
For this reason, every construction firm should host daily safety meetings, create safe zones using barricades and cones, and use signage, lighting, and high-visibility clothing to improve their employees’ and the public’s safety each day.
It doesn’t matter if construction work is commencing on a busy or quiet street, a highway, or on secluded land; you must create a safe and secure environment for every staff member, visitor, and pedestrian.
