Why all good builders need to worry about construction site safety

Construction sites are active bee hives of activity, with people and machinery moving about in proximity to each other. Because there are so many moving parts in a typical construction site, managing risks to prevent accidents is a lot more complex than the average office.

Despite rigorous safety standards in Australia, thousands of construction workers are injured onsite every year, and most accidents are preventable.

As a construction safety consultant, and having helped numerous builders across NSW, I’d like to help you discover how you can create a safer construction site to protect your workers.

1.  Conduct a site risk safety review

Common hazards around construction sites include:

• Insufficient signage
• Ineffective safety measures and exclusion zones for heavy equipment
• Inadequate space
• Poor planning
• Lack of communication.

A site risk safety review identifies, and prioritizes all the risks and potential hazards of a site. This gives builders a very clear plan forward on addressing safety issues.

2.  Stay informed

A key part of creating a safer construction site is to continuously educate yourself about the dangers. The SafeWork NSW site is a fantastic resource covering all the safety issues present on modern construction sites, including:

• Falls from heights
• Electrocution
• Moving plant
• Manual handling
• Work related stress.

This resource page also covers many of the latest safety issues affecting construction sites. Regularly educating yourself about what can and does happen on work sites will make you more diligent and aware of the risks.

3.  Engage regularly with your team

Regular and ongoing information and training sessions with your contractors and your employers where you discuss the relevant safety issues can significantly reduce workplace accidents. When all eyes are on the lookout for potential problems, there is less chance of hazards going unnoticed.

Need help in making your construction site safer?

I’m Sean Brown, the founder of SMB Safety Pty Ltd, and for over 25 years I have been helping small and medium builders across NSW and Australia build safer construction sites. If this article has you thinking about improving safety on your construction site, give me a call and let me help you fill in the gaps.

Other useful links:

Building and Construction Safety Services

Latest Safety Incident Alerts

Electrical Safety on Construction Sites