Contractors have a big job on their hands, and their commitment to fine work is necessary for the smooth completion of a project. Each contractor is responsible for all the tasks and roles entrusted to them and something that is discussed mutually. However, how can a contractor guarantee that all project tasks will work through the right balance and end up well?
In such a guarantee, safety plays a crucial role. The staff and team working on a project can only guarantee timely completion of activity as long as they remain safe, healthy, and active on the tasks. Ensuring staff and team security is the primary responsibility of a contractor. And top contractors such as Silver Foundation take full responsibility for all safety protocols and measures as per standards.
The Importance of Safety Protocols
Safety is a primary and preamble part of any project, let alone a construction project. The reason is that construction and other manufacturing projects and processes involve a high degree of labor involvement that poses a natural threat to everyone involved. For this, proper safety protocols and procedures must be implemented. For example, the placing of safety personal protective equipment before the start of production areas is not only necessary and a good practice but it develops an awareness among the staff regarding danger that may be ahead.
All similar safety protocols, activities, and awareness are necessary to ensure a safe and smooth environment for work. This is because safe work guarantees the timely completion of work. Below, we highlight different safety protocols and measures that are commonly found in world-class project sites.
Lead by Example
The first and foremost safety protocol for any project site and team is for the leader to lead by example. In the case of construction projects, it is the contractor that has to lead by example and show how different safety PPEs help everyone at work. Also, the contractor must further emphasize the importance of following safety measures at work areas.
For this, the contractor has to follow and depict the right way of working alongside keeping safety measures and protocols intact and thus ensuring everyone follows the same. Whenever a leader lays the foundation of a strong ethical work environment, only then do the juniors follow. Hence, contractors, being the leaders, must lead by example.
Develop a Comprehensive Safety Plan
Safety plans can be of various types, from an annual training plan or a document that depicts the importance of all safety protocols. During construction projects, it is the safety document that is handed to all associates and staff to describe and predict what has to be the primary response in case of any danger or potential risk.
Safety plans are carefully crafted and documented to ensure that everything is in order. Whenever there is a safety accident, there are comprehensive safety plans that offer everyone a stepwise guide regarding the next procedures for a safe evacuation, work continuation, and workplace safety. Devising a safety plan is necessary for any contractor to ensure that the project team is in safe hands.
Proper Training of Staff
Safety plans do contain a section of a comprehensive training plan for all the project associates regarding safety measures. Either before beginning a project or during the project, the contractor is responsible for giving extensive, detail-oriented, and meaningful training to associates that will guide them regarding safety measures to be taken care of regarding the current project.
Providing these training further improves the workflow of the associates and guides them on how they can manage the tasks while keeping safety protocols intact. In essence, undertaking comprehensive training sets the associates well-prepared for all the work ahead and paves the way for future learning as well.
Enforcing PPEs
PPEs or Personal Protective Equipment are common these days. Their presence is more mandatory just as their use. Numerous upgrades are being made to such an extent that what should be the proper placement for all PPEs? In essence, PPEs are all the necessary protective equipment that staff and associates can make use of while performing different project tasks.
However, having and placing PPEs may be a difficult task, but enforcing them is highly effective and essential. Enforcement of PPEs involves hard work from the contractor and also requires good input so the staff and labor know of its importance. This is one of the key works of any contractor when the need is to ensure that the staff does not bypass safety protocols and measures.
Regular Inspection of Equipment
Not everything is related to associates’ work ethics and safety equipment, but it is also important for the contractor to establish an inspection system of equipment and tools. Project operations take place through various tools and equipment, each of a different nature and dynamics. For this, a regular inspection system must be carried out based on safety parameters and inspection standards.
Having such a system adds to the safety enhancement and improvement of the system since the contractor and their team have a safe working environment. Furthermore, undergoing regular inspection keeps the equipment and tools operational and free from defects, even if some may arise during inspection.
Implement Fall Prevention Measures
It is imperative and understood that construction projects do involve working at heights for most parts of the project phases. For this, associates are required to perform the task though with minimal support. However, the support must not be minimal when it comes to their personal safety and fall protection. There are numerous cases where safety negligence has caused fatal accidents involving people falling from heights due to various reasons.
But a responsible contract and project leader it is essential that they implement harnesses, fall protection, guardrails, and safety nets. Other modern and advanced safety measures may be implemented for improved safety of the associates that are directed to work at heights.
Cleanliness
Safety is directly linked to cleanliness. A clean workspace is another name for a safe workspace, and there are various ways to support this argument. A clean and tidy workspace is always easy to inspect for even minor errors and drawbacks and offers a cleaner vision for enhanced safety measures and protocols.
Such clean areas improve even minor defects that may not be even hard; however, their presence feels untidy. For this, great places of work are always clean to have a look at whether there is any further room for improvement. In contrast, a cluttered workspace does not feel welcome to even look at it and thus hides potential risks, failures, and drawbacks.
Management of Hazardous Material
The best thing or an added safety measure beforehand for project staff is that different types of hazardous materials are labeled on bags and packaging. What this does is that it offers the project staff a beforehand understanding and knowledge of how these materials must be handled.
But this beforehand knowledge and understanding is imparted to them through an experienced contractor. Contractors are responsible for providing necessary guidelines to them regarding various safety protocols and measures of how these materials must be handled, inspected, and stored alongside their labelling and disposal methods.
Monitor Weather Conditions
Construction projects are not always meant for indoors but also for outdoor work for which keeping an eye on weather is an utmost necessity. Weather conditions play a critical part in any construction project and phase, especially outdoor work. For this, it is not advisable to completely shut off the production or completely allow the work during bad weather under open sky.
Rather, the project contractor must make a suitable plan regarding what types of weather permit the outdoor work operations to be held, whereas not permitting outdoor work when the weather is adverse. Contractors must keep natural calamities in check while allotting any type of work.
"Conclusion"
Safety is an essential part of our lives. In the world of work, construction projects are highly critical forms of jobs and they require safety protocols implementation of the highest order. Safety protocols involve plans, training, measures, equipment, following rules, and ensuring everything is considered before a task is planned, handed over, and worked upon.
Contractors, being project leaders, are at the forefront of any project. For this, their management and involvement in safety measures implementation is highly critical. There are many cases and incidents where contractors make light of safety protocols, and the staff follows the same, resulting in fatal losses of life and equipment. However, top contractors such as Silver Foundation do not compromise on safety measures and thus remain highly popular.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are three basic safety rules for any type of work?
The three basic safety rules for any type of work include following safety work instructions, wearing PPEs whenever necessary, and conducting proper inspections before operating any equipment.
How important is cleanliness to safety?
A clean and tidy workspace is always easy to inspect for even minor errors and drawbacks and offers a cleaner vision for enhanced safety measures and protocols.
How does a contractor improve safety for workers working at heights?
Contractors may implement harnesses, fall protection, guardrails, safety nets, and other modern and advanced safety measures.
What are PPEs?
Personal Protective Equipment or PPEs are all the necessary protective equipment that staff and associates can make use of while performing different project tasks.
How important is safety training?
Providing safety training to associates guides them regarding safety measures to be taken care of regarding the current project.
