Top 4 hazards in construction – and how you can avoid them

Construction sites are typically busy, with multiple projects going on at once. People may leave tools, debris, or other items on the floor or contractors might leave gaps or holes in the flooring – both of which pose serious risks for slips and falls.

Slips and falls are one of the most common causes of injury on construction sites. But they can be easily avoided by taking the right precautionary measures.

To protect your team from slips and falls, workers should install perimeters around any unsafe areas. Workers should also properly cover and label any floor openings and make them visible to other team members.

Another major hazard at construction sites is moving objects. Construction sites are always in motion; materials are being moved and vehicles are being driven constantly, and all that motion can create a situation that puts workers at risk for being hit by a moving object.

Workers getting injured by falling objects or vehicles happens all the time on construction sites. To protect yourself and your workers from this potential hazard, make sure your workers are trained on proper work site safety and avoid placing themselves between any fixed and moving objects. Also, make it a policy for all workers to wear bright clothing that makes them visible to workers operating vehicles or other machinery.

Another potential hazard on work sites is noise. The excessive, loud, constant noise that’s common for a construction site can cause long-term hearing damage to workers.

In order to prevent any potential hearing issues, make sure each worker has the proper ear protection. You should also visit the site on a regular basis to survey the noise levels, assess any risk, and take necessary measures to lower dangerous noise levels if necessary.

Asbestos is another potential construction site hazard that poses serious risks to worker health.

When inhaled, asbestos can cause long-term damage to the lungs, including scarring of the lung tissue, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and a crackling sound in the lungs during inhalation. Prolonged exposure only increases these risks.

In order to protect your workers from asbestos exposure, hire an outside company to survey the site for asbestos before you begin construction.

Construction sites can post serious risks for workers. If you have a construction site, it’s important that you take the proper steps necessary to protect your workers from harm, injury, and long-term health issues. And now that you know the four top hazards in construction – and how to avoid them – you have what you need to keep yourself, your construction site, and your workers safe.