Are You Making These Construction Safety Mistakes?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that nearly 6.5 million people work in construction in over 250,000 construction sites around the country. Though every workplace has its hazards, the fatal injury rate for construction workers is higher than the national average for all industries. Construction site safety is no joke, but many workers overlook the potential risks.

Though OSHA has set standards for worksite safety, accidents happen. Understanding and identifying potential workplace hazards is the first step in protecting yourself and your workforce. Read on to learn about common construction site mistakes and how to avoid them with safety gear.

The Most Common Construction Site Mistakes

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), a worker is injured on the job every 7 seconds. Common injuries range from sprains, strains, and tears to cuts, punctures, and lacerations. Construction is one of the top five occupations with the largest number of workplace injuries resulting in lost work days, contributing to a loss of over 104 million production days due to work-related injuries each year.

Every worksite is different, but the hazards of the construction industry are the same across the board. While extra care should be taken when working with heavy machinery and dangerous substances, some hazards are more prevalent than others.

According to OSHA citations, these are the most common mistakes reported in regards to construction site safety:

• Scaffolding
• Fall protection
• Excavations
• Ladders
• Head protection
• Hazard communication
• Electrical systems

Perhaps the most significant item on this list in terms of avoiding injury is hazard communication. Failure to recognize and communicate worksite hazards to others working the site increases their risk for injury. In addition to being aware of potential hazards, you can protect yourself on the job by wearing the proper safety gear.

Tips for Protecting Yourself on the Job

Some of the most common worksite injuries for construction include burns, electrocution, eye injury, broken bones, neck or shoulder injury, back injury, illness caused by chemical exposure, and head/brain injury. Recognizing the hazards associated with your line of work and your particular worksite is the best way to protect yourself and your team. Even if you know the potential hazards, accidents can still happen but there are simple ways to protect yourself.

Here are some tips for protecting yourself on the job:

• Make sure everyone on the team is properly trained for using and working around dangerous equipment.
• Always watch your step when you’re onsite – avoid stepping on loose boards, unsecured shingles, unsteady scaffolding, and unbalanced ladders.
• Wear all required safety gear for each site – this likely includes hardhats, goggles, ear protection, work gloves, and steel-toed boots.
• Use handrails when present to keep yourself steady and to avoid unnecessary falls.
• Always practice safe, ergonomic lifting techniques – use your legs to lift heavy objects and not your back.
• Avoid dark areas until proper lighting has been installed – be wary of changing light in outdoor conditions.
• Be sure to stay dry when walking through hot zones where electrical lines are being installed.

Now that you have a better understanding of potential construction site safety issues, you can see the importance of wearing the proper safety gear. Read on to see our top product recommendations for construction site safety.

Recommended Products for Workplace Safety

Depending on where you work, you may be required to wear certain gear according to OSHA standards. It never hurts to add an extra layer of protection, however, or to upgrade your standard equipment to something even better.

Here are some of our top recommendations for construction site safety gear:

High-Visibility Apparel

OSHA safety standards require construction workers to wear Class 2 or 3 ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 personal protective apparel. Visibility gear is designed to improve safety in active work sites where workers are exposed to traffic or construction vehicles.

• Safety Apparel “The Party Chief” Survey Vest – Made from high-quality materials with superior craftsmanship, this safety vest offers more reflective striping than a Class III vest.
• ML Kishigo Safar Hat Full Brim – Not only does this hat keep you visible, but the mesh around the crown keeps your head cool and well ventilated. The brim also reduces glare.
• Dicke Safety Products ANSI Class E Pants – Featuring a drawstring waist and pass-through side pockets, these high-visibility pants are both comfortable and practical.

Head Protection

Falls from heights and falling objects pose the greatest risk for head injuries on the job site. Head protection gear like hard hats, helmets, and visors help keep you safe on the job.

• HexArmor Ceros XP250 Safety Helmet – This safety helmet is constructed from premium HDPE material with an adjustable HexVent airflow system for maximum ventilation.
• Elvex ProGuard Professional Safety Cap – Featuring an integrated system to protect the head, face, and hearing, this safety cap is both comfortable and effective.
• Pyramex Hard Hat Full Brim – Made from high-density polyethylene materials in a low-profile design, this hard hat features a rain trough on the sides and back to channel moisture away.

Safety Eyewear

According to the CDC, more than 10,600 eye injuries occur on job sites each year. Primary hazards include nails, splinters, pieces of metal, and cute wire ends flying in the air as well as cement dust, sawdust, grit, and chemicals. Protective eyewear creates a protective barrier against worksite hazards.

• Edge Eyewear Safety Goggles – For maximum vision protection, these goggles are designed for all-day everyday wear with a lightweight, comfortable design.
• HexArmor Safety Eyewear MX200 TruShield – With a rimless lens design, these glasses offer a wide field of vision and the Trushield coating protects against fog and scratches.
• 3A Safety Cool Frameless Glasses – Featuring a frameless design and anti-fog lens, these safety glasses are lightweight and low-cost.

Hearing Protection

Occupational hearing loss is one of the most common work-related injuries, according to the CDC. It affects about 22 million workers each year but can easily be prevented by wearing proper hearing protection.

• Moldex Sparkplugs Disposable Ear Plugs – With 200 pairs of these disposable earplugs, your hearing will be protected in even the noisiest environments.
• ReadyMax Zip-Out Ear Plugs – Install these tethered earplugs inside your hard hat so you have your hearing protection handy whenever you need it.

Safety Work Gloves

Common worksite hand injuries include lacerations, crushes, avulsions or detachments, punctures, and fractures. According to the U.S. Bureau and Labor Statistics, more than 70% of workers who sustain these injuries were not wearing safety work gloves at the time.

• HexArmor Rig Lizard Arctic 2035 Gloves – These gloves take cold weather protection to a new level, featuring a Thinsulate liner and a waterproof liner as well as cut-resistant material.
• Red Steer Cut Resistant Polyurethane Palm – Cut, puncture, and snag resistant, these gloves feature a polyurethane palm for added abrasion resistance.
• HexArmor Helix 1095 Nitrile Grip Gloves – Featuring a nylon blend shell and flexible sandy nitrile palm coating, these gloves provide superior grip and abrasion resistance.

Safety Footwear

Foot injuries are some of the most common workplace injuries and these injuries are some of the most painful and slow to heal. Common foot injuries include punctures, crushes, sprains, and lacerations resulting from slips, trips, and falls. Safety footwear keeps you protected on the job.

• Thorogood Hellfire Neoprene Rubber Boot – Made from neoprene and vulcanized rubber, these boots keep you safe from blood-borne pathogens, electrical hazards, puncture, and slips.
• 10-Inch Linemans Boot – Made with a composite safety toe, these boots offer slip resistance and shock resistance with a half-slip wedge design for improved arch support.

When it comes to workplace safety, it pays to think ahead. Each time you enter the work site, take a moment to identify potential hazards and ensure that you have the proper safety gear to protect yourself. Safety is a state of mind and it is one that should always be active when on the job.