Construction safety is a key pillar of the commercial development industry, and at Unique Building Group (UBG), it’s priority number one. Maintaining a safe work environment helps us keep our workers safe and productive while maintaining operational efficiency. Construction safety is one of the most important things general contractors look for when selecting subcontractors for complex jobs. Our safety practices are a big reason why we continually deliver projects on-time and on-budget year after year. The team at UBG is here with a list of top safety tips that all subcontractors should keep in mind in the commercial construction industry.
1. Promote Communication
Firms that prioritize communication are better prepared to identify and prevent safety hazards. At UBG, we use on-the-job communication devices and establish daily safety check-ins so our workers have every opportunity to communicate concerns, identify hazards, and reinforce safety practices. Complex construction projects involve so many moving pieces, and communication practices can easily be neglected if they are not prioritized.
2. Fall Protection Is Essential
Using fall protection might seem obvious, but falls remain the top cause of construction fatalities on OSHA’s fatal four list. Workers should always use personal fall arrest equipment when working even a few inches off the ground. All floor openings should be labeled and covered, and ladders and scaffolds should always be secured and used safely. Fall protection is essential, especially when working on large-scale buildings.
3. Make Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Accessible
Before permitting workers to enter the job site, your safety manager should verify that they’re equipped with the right PPE. Each worker should have their own personal gear, but companies should have an extra supply of items available, too. This especially includes eye protection, helmets, and gloves. Safety managers should always monitor to ensure compliance with PPE requirements.
4. Create Robust Safety Procedures
It’s important to make safety a habit. Start by creating rules and procedures that all workers and employees must follow daily and review these procedures with your teams frequently. Construction safety procedures should require that employees always wear PPE, document safety hazards every morning, and hold daily safety meetings before work begins. Repetitive reinforcement will help safety procedures become a habit, and once they do, workplace accidents will be easier to avoid.
5. Maintain A Clean Jobsite
Maintaining a clean job site and good safety practices go hand-in-hand. When tools or debris are left all over the place, these items can become major tripping hazards. Equipment and machines should be put away when they’re not in use and debris should be removed from the worksite as quickly as possible.
6. Make Sure Teams Are Aware Of Their Surroundings
Complex construction projects involve an orchestration of dozens of events, and they usually involve multiple subcontractors working on the project simultaneously. When working on a large project, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings as well as the work that other teams are doing. We recommend reviewing the full project schedule with your team every morning so everyone is aware of who is doing what and when.
7. Invest In Safety Technology
Relying on technology is one of the most effective ways to limit workplace accidents. Using drones to scope out safety hazards on the job site or wearable monitors that can track falls or overexertion can be highly effective. Invest in solutions that make it easy to report and communicate safety hazards. Technology is significantly enhancing the way we work in this industry. Companies that are quick to adopt new technology will benefit from strong safety records and enhanced performance.
8. Training And Education Should Never End
When it comes to construction safety, training should never end. As the industry evolves, it’s important to stay up to date on safety best practices. This means all team members should undergo frequent and regular training and regular internal safety meetings should be held to review processes and procedures.
9. Make Everyone Accountable
Safety is everyone’s job — foreman, managers, estimators, safety directors, all the way up to the leadership team. A commitment to safety should start at the top of the organization and become quickly integrated into the company culture. Every member of your team has a role to play when it comes to maintaining a good safety record.
At UBG, our ability to consistently deliver results on time and on budget is fueled by our excellent safety track record. If you’re a general contractor looking for the industry’s safest and most experienced large-scale drywall and framing subcontractor, give us a call today.
