The safety and welfare of each and every construction worker should be the number one priority on any building site. Unfortunately, while chasing tight project deadlines and even tighter budget constraints, many civil engineers are happy to find ways to save time and money. Sometimes these “solutions” spell disaster for the workers, and can even sabotage the entire project. In this article we’re taking a look at four common site safety shortcomings that are commonly identified on construction sites across the globe:

  1. No strict PPE enforcement

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is something every person on the planet can now identify (thanks to the emergence of COVID-19). This ranges from N95 masks and face shields to working-at-heights harnesses and protective hardhats. These are vital for the safety of all workers on the site, especially when working high above the ground. Like tool pre-checks, assessing the state of each worker’s PPE should be a daily site safety habit.

  1. No tool and equipment pre-checks

There’s no way of predicting when a grinder, impact drill, or another piece of construction machinery will break down. However, what you can do is assess and test the equipment regularly, making sure it’s all working as it should. Consider making this a daily habit, so that you can identify and sort out any machinery issues before they disrupt your important time-sensitive projects.

  1. No emergency response plans

Let’s face it: accidents happen, especially around heavy machinery and construction activities. The idea on every building site should be to prevent accidents and emergencies. But, when they do happen, having clear emergency response plans can mean the difference between life and death. If everyone knows what to do when disaster strikes, precious minutes can be saved and possibly lives too.

  1. No immediate reporting of issues

When problems happen, and they can happen at any time, how rapidly are they reported to the relevant construction site authorities? Delaying the reporting of safety issues, regardless of how minor, can lead to more serious future safety concerns, possibly even resulting in injury. When a safety concern is identified, it is up to the person to immediately notify their superior who should look into the matter without delay.

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RJB Projects are consulting civil engineers with high ethical standards. We value trust and respect, which pushes us to consistently produce high-quality designs for each and every client. We provide friendly, seamless, flexible services to ensure there is constant and effective communication throughout each project. Contact RJB Projects to discuss your upcoming civil engineering project requirements.