Running a construction business involves tackling a diverse range of projects. As a company owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that your employees are safe in every setting. In this guide, we’ll discuss measures to help you prioritize health and hygiene.
Legislation
The first step to take when you manage a construction business is to ensure that your company is fully compliant. There are health and safety rules and regulations in place to protect employers and employees. Following the guidelines will reduce the risk of accidents and injuries and prevent you from incurring fines and penalties. Check the guidelines regularly, attend training so that you are aware of updates or revisions, and liaise with your team. If you don’t adhere to legislation, you may be punished and you could be held liable if your employees sustain injuries at work.
Risk assessment
Risk assessments are conducted to identify and highlight potential hazards and dangers. If your assessment flags issues, you can then address them before they cause problems for your employees. Make sure you have a robust, rigorous process in place every time you open a new site or start work on a project and repeat checks frequently. Ensure that all incidents are reported and respond to concerns as quickly as possible.
Equipment and facilities
Managing employees on a construction site is often very different from leading an office-based team. Construction sites are more dangerous and employees are required to undertake a broad spectrum of tasks, often using specialist equipment or tools and spending long periods outdoors. Make sure that your team has all the relevant safety equipment and check PPE regularly to ensure that it meets safety standards. Provide facilities for washing and look for portable potty rental services. If your employees have access to potentially hazardous materials, vehicles or equipment, they should have the required training. If workers attempt tasks using faulty equipment or machinery that they don’t know how to use safely, you run the risk of being held liable for accidents and injuries.
Training
Providing training for your employees is one of the most effective ways to reduce risks and keep your employees safe on site. From general health and safety courses to training related to operating specific machinery or vehicles, it’s hugely beneficial to encourage your employees to learn on the job. Training enables teams to expand their knowledge base and gain new skills, which is advantageous for both employees and employers. Take some time to research courses and programs, talk to your team to see which programs interest them most and try to make it easy for your workforce to fit training in around their daily schedule.
When you work on construction sites, it is vital to prioritize health, safety, wellbeing and hygiene. As a business owner, make sure that you comply with legislation, provide training for your employees, ensure that your team has access to hygiene facilities and carry out regular risk assessments and equipment checks to minimize the risk of accidents and injuries. It’s also beneficial to talk to your employees to see if they have any concerns and to address any problems flagged by your team or during risk assessments promptly.