The safety and well-being of the workers is of the utmost importance in every industry. There are however, certain sectors in which particular consideration needs to be given to ensuring the safety of the employees; one of those sectors is the construction industry. Construction is undoubtedly among the most hazardous occupation and with the combination of heavy construction equipment, deep holes, and high work areas, the potential for accidents is tremendous. Construction is a very specialized sector of any economy and as such, while worker safety should always be top priority, timely job completion is always looming overhead. Construction workers perform different tasks each day, all of which are potentially hazardous and any job site negligence can lead to accidents, injuries, and in the worst cases, death. In consideration of the dangers inherent to the occupation, it is essential that the workers not only understand the safe operation of the equipment and machinery, but know and utilize the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for each task that they perform.
It is the responsibility of every employer to ensure that their workers are provided with the proper safety equipment and to train them in its correct usage. It is the responsibility of the worker however, to be diligent in not only using the safety equipment, but making sure that it is the right equipment for the task at hand. It is also the responsibility of each worker to wear PPE correctly. Incorrectly used safety equipment is nearly as dangerous as none at all.
Protective eye wear and properly fitted helmets or hardhats are imperative for any construction site.
Ear muffs or earplugs should be worn in any noisy areas. Construction equipment is noisy and often workers become desensitized to it. Hearing loss is often so gradual that it is unnoticeable to the person affected, but even low levels of noise can cause hearing to deteriorate after prolonged exposure.
Protective gloves should be worn at all times when handling chemicals or materials with sharp edges.
Protective masks should be worn in extremely dusty areas and in areas where chemicals are present.
Protective footwear should be worn at all times. Non-skid footwear with protective toe reinforcement is a must on any construction site.
Fall harnesses are perhaps among the most important pieces of safety gear on any construction site. They should be properly worn and tied off whenever you work more than 6 feet from the ground.
High visibility clothing is also important when heavy construction equipment is being used. Many accidents happen not because those moving around the site aren’t easily seen by equipment operators.
While accidents will always happen, most are avoidable. Using the right safety equipment and using it correctly can eliminate many on the job injuries. Kevcor has the safety equipment you need to keep your workers safe and your job on schedule.
