Job site safety is the most important topic for foremen and upper management to consider when planning contract work because it touches so many elements of the job. Injury and illness and increase costs and time while reducing worker morale and efficiency, which means that proper safety protocols ensure that workers are protected and jobs are completed successfully. That’s why worker safety is such a hot topic and so many companies and organizations invest resources into improving safety on the job. Here are some of the most effective ways to ensure job site safety:
- Require PPE
Every job will have its own needs around personal protective equipment (PPE). Ensure that employees are fully outfitted with foot protection, hi-visibility clothing, hard hats, hearing protection, and any other safety wear that’s appropriate for the job being done. With safety footwear, be sure that all employees have boots or shoes that meet the demands of the job to avoid a catastrophic incident.
- Post Regulations and Requirements
Workers can’t follow safety regulations if they don’t know what they are, which is why many industries require that safety guidelines be posted publicly for employees to read. Ensure compliance by readily displaying anything that your workers need to read on the job site.
- Encourage Employees to Ask Questions
New employees and younger workers may not have the same levels of experience that older employees do, which means that it’s very important to create a culture where it’s okay to ask questions. Make sure that “green” employees feel comfortable asking for help or confirming before engaging in a task.
- Implement Regular Safety Training
Obviously, new employees need to be trained, but even your more experienced employees can benefit from ongoing training. Incorporate training on the newest methods into the job regularly to keep employees up-to-date on recent industry changes and narrow the knowledge gap.
- Utilize a Chain of Command
Make it clear who’s in charge on the job site so that employees know who to go to if they’re experiencing an issue. This is important for maintaining order (especially with large work crews) and centralizing safety concerns and complaints.
- Involve Employees in New Initiatives
The best way to get employees on board with safety measures is to include them. Ask for input when safety measures are being updated and implement a feedback loop to strive for continuous improvement.
- Reward Safe Behavior
Incentivizing safe behavior is a good way to keep employees safe on the job. Some companies take a broader “It’s been X days since an incident” approach while others reward employees individually with bonuses/perks when they’re observed following safety procedures. No matter how you choose to structure it, providing incentives for safe behavior is likely to keep employees honest with conduct even when they’re not being observed.
- Communicate a Way to Report Violations
Whether it’s an anonymous whistleblower program, or a way to bring violations to managers without retaliation, employees need to know that they’re safe to report what they see if there’s something foul going on.
- Take the Weather into Account
Outdoor job sites have the added stress of needing to respond to weather conditions. Always have regulations in place (regarding temperature and other conditions) around when workers should and shouldn’t be working. Keep workers sidelined when there’s lightning in the area or when temperatures are too cold or hot for work to be done safely and effectively. If you choose to have employees working in temperature extremes, be sure to provide plenty of water and breaks in hot temps and heaters in cold temps.
- Provide On-Site Restrooms
It’s easy to forget about the danger posed by germs when you’re worried about dangers around heavy machinery and other obvious hazards, but that doesn’t make them any less serious. An outbreak of a stomach virus or other contagious disease can cripple your job site the same way a recordable accident can. If workers are out sick, you can fall behind schedule and risk burning out the rest of the workers who must make up the slack. This is why it’s so critical to have on-site restrooms with sinks and/or hand sanitizer dispensers. Giving workers a convenient place to go to the bathroom and clean up substantially reduces the likelihood of a contagious disease spreading. Without the proper facilities, employees can’t keep hands clean, which can spell disaster for your contract work (especially during cold and flu season). Using a reliable portable toilet supplier will ensure that you’re providing facilities that are regularly cleaned out and restocked for maximum hygiene.
Kerkstra Luxury Portable Restroom Service Inc. provides portable restroom service across Michigan and luxury restroom trailers for all of the states surrounding the Great Lakes. Take a look at our mobile restroom trailers and request a quote today!
