Civil Construction Safety Tips
Building infrastructure requires a lot of civil works. More often than not, engineers will prepare site maps and blueprints describing the amount of work needed. Unknown to most people, civil works expose the engineers, contractors, and workers at the site to a variety of risks. Read this excerpt to learn some safety tips to observe when conducting civil construction.
Site Inspection
Engineers should inspect the site to identify any hazards that might compromise civil works. For instance, if they will be using excavators and high reach arms, they should check whether the site has low lying electric cables. Besides, earthmoving equipment could damage water and gas lines. They may also need specialised equipment when working in areas that have clay soil.
Equipment
All equipment at the site should be in excellent condition. Conduct a visual inspection to ensure the tires have sufficient tread, the hydraulic system is fully functional, and the engines do not have any problems. If you intend to use crane hoists at the site, check the cables to ensure they do not have any wear. Besides, the frame should not have any cracks.
All equipment should be set up and operated by qualified personnel. Besides, you must understand the equipment's specifications. For example, you should not overload cranes or use them in poor weather. Workers must be disciplined when using site equipment. For instance, they should not use cranes or excavators to hoist people.
Site Management
All workers should have personal protective clothing when conducting civil works. These include boots, gloves, helmets and reflective jackets. Moreover, you must adopt a reliable method of communication if you will have noisy equipment at the site. For example, you could use flags or walkie-talkies. The site should have barricades to prevent unauthorised people from accessing the area. Besides, you should have proper signage to warn people of risks such as holes and live electric cables.
Emergency Plans
Each site must have an emergency plan detailing what actions should be taken in case of an accident. Preferably, some of the site employees should have attended relevant first aid courses. These workers will provide immediate medical assistance to injured employees before paramedics arrive. Have a designated assembly point where your workers can meet to conduct a headcount once an accident happens. Besides, all your employees should have emergency contacts to the local police, hospitals and the fire department.
Most clients will ask contractors to have a general liability insurance cover. It compensates third parties who get injured at your site. You should also have workers compensation insurance to cover employees and any sub-contractors at the site.