The construction industry is one of the deadliest businesses in terms of safety.
It is estimated that over 7,500 workers die on construction sites due to accidents and work-related diseases.
Construction workers have to deal with dynamic activities that expose them to many life-threatening dangers. This is also why they often like to stay away from such businesses and are always on a lookout for an alternative career despite it offering them some amazing perks.
In this article, we’ll have a look at some of the most common risks associated with working in the construction industry with some tips on how to reduce them.
Risks Associated With The Construction Business
- Working at heights.
- Electricity hazards.
- Fire hazards.
- Trip and fall.
- Machine malfunction.
- Use dangerous tool.
- Extreme weather.
- Working underground and many more.
The bottom line is that there are many dangers that lurk on a construction site and the workers are always exposed to these dangers. If safety measures aren’t adopted properly, there can be a huge loss of lives.
In fact, in the past, many workers have gone disabled or lost their lives due to construction-related injuries.
Hence, it is important not only to recognize these dangers but to prevent them. If they are natural and can’t be prevented then one must look for ways to reduce the risks.
Minimizing Risks In The Construction Business
If the workers don’t feel safe, there’s a high chance that they’d be looking for work in other places. This can be a huge blow to the business since finding new and skilled workers can be difficult.
Moreover, anyone facing any sort of injury at work can also be very bad because it will not only put the project at risk but can also end up being very costly to the builder.
Therefore, it is important to take safety precautions and minimize the dangers that are associated with the construction business.
Monitoring The Area
A lot of businesses in the construction field make the mistake of commencing construction without surveying the area. This can have fatal consequences because workers would be unaware of the dangers that might be lurking on the site.
There might be leaked gas pipes, exposed electric circuits, damaged ground, and more.
Therefore, the first step that any construction business should take is to monitor the area.
You can implement gas detectors in various spots to find out if there’s a gas leak in any part of the site. This will help prevent a major gas explosion and help protect countless lives.
Run a full aerial scan of the site using drones for potent threats such as weak grounds that might collapse, ditches, etc. While a manual inspection may also work, the truth is that it is very risky since the inspector may end up being injured during the process.
Use Autonomous Machines In Unsafe Areas
The construction business is largely about moving cargo, lifting heavy stuff, working at heights and unsafe spots. This puts the lives of the workers in jeopardy because a lot of accidents occur when they are using machines such as bulldozers, cranes, etc.
Many of these machines even use planetary gear to work properly. It is used as an input to increase torque. View page to know more about the planetary gear or its use in different industries. It helps the industry in many ways and is now being used in different tools equipment including autonomous machines that seem to have become a part of the industry in a large way.
These machines are controlled from a safe distance and minimize the risk of sustaining injuries workers won’t be physically present at a dangerous spot. Instead, they’d be controlling robots to pick up huge debris, boulders, heavy ledges, etc.
Implement Strict Rules Of Safety
Sometimes, workers lose lives due to their own carelessness. They neglect the importance of safety equipment and overlook the rules set by the company that must be followed during work hours.
For example, most of the construction businesses prohibit the use of mobile phones at work because it can lead to severe consequences. However, it is very common for workers to neglect such rules that may end up causing them damage.
Moreover, even OSHA has set certain rules that all construction businesses and employees must follow for safety.
It is the duty of the management to educate the employees about safety concerns and implement strict rules to ensure the rules are being followed by one and all.
Safety Equipment
Workers must be given safety equipment to protect against accidents and mishaps. This includes wearable equipment such as protective glasses to protect their eyes from harmful elements and complete gear to protect their skin from harmful chemicals.
Exoskeleton machines are considered to be a breakthrough in the industry because they help provide safety and make difficult tasks easier. It’s a wearable suit that gives a good amount of strength to the wearer to carry, move, and lift extremely heavy objects such as pallets, blocks, etc. As a result, there’s additional safety.
The exoskeleton market is on a roll and has been making the lives of construction workers easier. It is estimated that the market will reach1.8 billion by 2025.
Working with heavy objects can put enormous strain on the muscles which can also lead to a severe injury. Here’s where exoskeleton suits can provide the wearer with the necessary strength.
It largely helps prevent damage and ensures the job is completed safe and sound.
The Conclusion
It’s important for construction companies to implement safety protocols and provide workers with training, equipment, and education on how to work at construction sites and stay away from dangers.