Road construction can prove decidedly inconvenient for many citizens. However, the construction and maintenance of roadways is vital to economic development and social connectivity. That said, construction sites can be profoundly dangerous environments - in fact, the roadside construction sector alone accounts for an alarmingly large portion of workplace incidents. Therefore, as a member management for a local authority responsible for roadworks, the importance of familiarising your crew with health and safety guidelines and procedures cannot be overstated. Here are some tips for ensuring the safety of on-site individuals and the general public.
Identify Hazards
Before construction work begins, those responsible for risk assessing must identify potential hazards to ensure employees, contractors and the general public are protected from harm. Potential hazards may include working from a height, heavy lifting, material handling and power tool use. While construction sites are invariably hazardous environments, corrective measures can be implemented to reduce the likelihood of harm. Furthermore, findings regarding hazards, incidents and near misses should be recorded and assessed to avoid future catastrophic consequences.
Implement Training
Robust training ensures that all employees are aware of your organisation’s procedures, policies and expectations. Training will also help develop and enhance skills, promoting a productive, efficient workforce. Your road construction training programs should cover everything from equipment use to emergency and first aid plans to ensure every on-site individual follows protocol safely and consistently.
Set Up A Perimeter
A roadwork perimeter is vital to the safety of road users and pedestrians. The use of clearly visible barriers, cones and signage signal the presence of road work so members of the public can take the appropriate precautions. Perimeters should also be used within the work site to section off potentially hazardous work areas.
Personal Protective Equipment
It is the moral and legal responsibility of site management to provide appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to all employees. PPE may include eye protection, ear protection and respiratory equipment. As mentioned, construction workers face disproportionate risks to their physical well-being, and many workers report long-term health complaints caused by inadequate PPE and poor health and safety standards. That considered, failure to provide adequate PPE is regarded as gross misconduct.
Control Traffic
Numerous measures are vital for controlling traffic in and around a roadside construction site, including clear, recognisable signage, traffic lighting, lane closure and temporary speed limits. These measures put in place to reduce risks should be outlined in your traffic guidance scheme, which is an essential visual guide for diverting and controlling traffic and plant machinery in and around the work zone. A traffic guidance scheme also extends to the safety of pedestrians.
Have A Competent Person On Site
All construction sites must have what is known as a competent person, who is a professional individual with sufficient training and experience, responsible for identifying risks and executing the necessary steps to reduce or eliminate them. A competent person will enable the site team to perform tasks and complete work to the required health and safety standards.
Exercise Caution Around Construction Vehicles
Plant machinery is responsible for a large portion of construction site-related incidents resulting in injury and even fatality. Therefore, plant machinery and construction vehicles should only be operated by trained professionals. Under no circumstances should machinery be operated if employees have reason to believe that it is faulty or conditions are unsafe. Furthermore, all employees should be vigilant and conscientious when working with or in proximity to heavy machinery - this includes using a spotter as an extra pair of eyes, ears and hands for drivers and equipment operators.
Hold Regular Safety Meetings
Many roadside construction teams find daily safety meetings incredibly valuable to safety and production levels. Regular meetings ensure all health and safety policies and procedures are fresh in the minds of each individual so that employees can continue with their working day with confidence and efficiency.
Understand Communication Signals
In noisy construction work environments, workers often rely on visual cues, including hand signals and eye contact. To avoid the uncertainty of signals becoming lost in translation, all employees must ensure non-verbal communication is clear, consistent and consistent. Workers must also remain attentive and alert at all times to give and receive signals, to reduce the risk of injury and promote a productive, efficient work model.
Resources:
- Traffic Management Plans - Coda
- Construction Traffic Management Plan - Business.Blog