This is part 1 in a series of articles about construction site hazards.
Construction site hazards are common in such a constantly-changing working environment. Taking proactive steps in awareness and safety can decrease the likelihood of property damage, injuries, and in more severe cases, fatalities. Almost 6.5 million people work on more than a quarter of a million construction sites each day. Compared to other industries, fatalities at construction sites are significantly higher.
What Are Some Common Construction Site Hazards?
Scaffolding
Frequently, construction projects require crews to work at heights from scaffolding. However, scaffolds are associated with several construction site hazards. If they are installed or used incorrectly, they could fall and cause damage or severe injury. There are approximately 4,500 scaffold-related injuries and 50 fatalities every year.
How can you prevent injury?
Scaffolds should be erected on solid footing and must be able to carry their own weight, plus four times the maximum intended load, without settling or displacement. Once installed, they should be equipped with guardrails, midrails, and toeboards. A “competent person” must inspect scaffolding several times while in use. If there is a change or a shift, it must be repaired immediately or it can negatively impact the scaffolding’s stability.
Fall Protection
Other construction site hazards to be aware of involve falls from elevated areas. Each year, falls account for the greatest number of fatalities in the construction industry. Several factors involved in falls are unstable work areas, misuse or failure to use fall protection equipment, and human error. Studies show that using guardrails, fall arrest systems, safety nets, and harnesses can prevent many deaths and severe injuries associated with falls.
Other solutions include using aerial lifts or elevated platforms to provide safer elevated work surfaces. Additionally, any floor holes should be covered.
Construction custom security solutions can be incorporated into a construction site’s safety plan to add an extra level of protection. All activities can be live-streamed to one of our remote monitoring centers. The trained operators can look for suspicious activity and report it to the proper authorities. Recorded video may also be used as evidence in workplace liability cases.
Stealth Monitoring is the leader in remote video surveillance in Canada and the U.S, with over 400 employees, 11 offices, and 3 live video monitoring control centers. Our proactive video monitoring watches over 17,000 IP and CCTV security cameras. Our security solutions feature advanced technology and can detect and deter crime while reducing security guard and other expenses. Stealth’s remote monitoring service can reduce or even replace security guards at a fraction of the cost. A remote surveillance operator can see suspicious activity, activate a speaker warning, and call the local police.
Please call toll-free (866) 756-7847 or contact Stealth today for more information to protect your outdoor assets. Visit our website to see real arrest videos at construction sites, multifamily apartments, shopping centers, office buildings, warehouses, auto dealerships, and other commercial real estate properties.
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