Reduce Injuries on a Construction Site

Reduce Injuries on a Construction Site

How to Reduce Injuries on a Construction Site

Reduce Injuries on a Construction SiteAccording to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 1 among 5 workplace injuries is a construction worker. This shows us how hazardous commercial construction sites are. However, the industry’s ability to adapt has also made it easier for companies to identify the underlying causes of injuries. In turn, this has helped find ways to tackle those issues and reduce the rates of injury on site. Today on our blog, our Sacramento construction general contractors will be covering how to reduce injuries on a construction site.

Hold safety meetings regularly.

These meetings should be held every day, especially if your commercial construction workers are undertaking high-risk work.  Our friends over at McQuillan Brothers, emergency plumber Minneapolis, regularly implement safety meetings into their weekly schedules. These meetings highlight the importance of safety. Additionally, they remind the employees of the dangers identified during risk assessments while reminding them to stay focused. Addressing relevant issues that apply to the job-specific site information ensures that employees know the exposure points.

Conduct a Real Risk Assessment

Before a project begins, a commercial construction site should be inspected for any potential or unusual hazards. These inspections will allow you to develop a proper safety plan that takes into account these potential hazards. Alternatively, you can also have a job hazard analysis carried out on the site. This has proven itself as a savior, both for working capital savings and human lives. 

Additionally, for each potential hazard observed, a corresponding list of preventive measures should be compiled then implemented. A risk assessment document should then be provided for all workers during a safety meeting. The brief will highlight the right education, information, and training required to stop injuries from occurring on site.

Stop Falls Before They Occur

Falls are among the leading cause of injuries in the construction sector. They are also the leading cause of death in the industry. They make up about 33% of all construction injuries. Installing fall protection systems can go a long way in preventing a large number of construction fatalities from occurring. These protection systems include screens, guardrails, canopy structures, toe boards, scaffolding, and nets. For scaffolding, it is important to ensure that it is constructed well and installed properly to hold the intended weight. Scaffolding should also be inspected regularly by a qualified Sacramento commercial builder. Other protection methods include a lanyard or a safety harness.

Maintain Equipment and Conduct Checks Regularly

The machinery used in most construction sites today requires a lot of down-time responsibility, including inspecting the equipment regularly and maintaining it. More than 75% of struck-by injuries result from heavy machinery like cranes or trucks. Thoroughly and regularly conducting maintenance checks on this equipment will increase your ability to stop malfunctions. This is huge, as these malfunctions may cause serious injuries.

Use Protective Gear and Clothing

Workers should, at all times, wear the recommended safety equipment for their jobs. This may include goggles, a hard hat, gloves, high-visibility clothing, a protective suit, or steel-toed shoes. During the summer heat, outdoor commercial renovation Sacramento workers require nape protectors, wide-brim hard hats, and long-sleeve-lightweight shirts. These will help protect them from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

Ensure the workspace remains clean

Keeping the worksite clean and free of debris will reduce the chances of a commercial builder sustaining injuries and preventing worksite accidents such as falls, trips, and slips. Employees are encouraged to put away their construction materials and tools when done with the job. Walkways should also remain free from debris at all times. This will help avert any accidents that include falls and slips.

Exercise caution with vehicles

Many commercial construction site accidents usually involve vehicles. Workers should practice parking, backing, and defensive driving. Commercial construction companies in Sacramento can organize periodic refresher courses to sharpen construction equipment and vehicle operators/drivers’ skills.

Use the Equipment in the Right Manner

Using construction equipment or tools for something they are not designed for may interfere with the manufacturer’s inbuilt safety features.  Misusing equipment may also cause damage to the equipment, which may cause injuries to employees. 

Furthermore, any equipment used in construction sites should meet OSHA standards.

Develop a safety culture

Repeating safety information and warnings every day will help your workers but only to some extent. At the end of the day, working as a team to willfully approach safety will prevent construction fatalities. When your workers make an effort to conduct their own safety protocols and risk assessments, they will help prevent injuries by awareness and active discussion.

Headwaters Construction Inc. hopes that you consider all the useful information on injury prevention discussed above and implemented it on your construction site. If you have any inquiries about the services we provide or would like to learn more about our company’s services, please contact us today.

Phases of a Commercial Build-Out

Phases of a Commercial Build-Out

Understanding the Phases of a Commercial Build-Out

Phases of a Commercial Build-OutThere are many different phases of a commercial build-out. This entails a very long and detailed process, which can be frustrating with codes and regulations. Hiring a Sacramento commercial builder like Headwaters Construction Inc. to manage your project from the beginning to the end can help. This will help decrease your frustrations significantly. However, you must have some basic knowledge of each stage of the build-out. In turn, this will help decide who would be the contractor for the position. 

Knowing what each stage entails makes it easier for you to learn whether a contractor is up to the task. Additionally, it may keep you from incurring unexpected costs or delays. 

The following are the commercial build-out phases.

Design Stage

This is the stage where blueprints are designed. Structural engineers and architects are usually the ones who sign off on commercial building plans. Hiring the right Sacramento general contractor allows them to work directly with the engineer to accurately develop and implement the design.

When approaching the design reading stage, it is helpful to have commercial construction companies on hand. They will ensure that the end product built is the vision that the design carried in the long run. 

The main purpose of the design stage is to make sure that the building will be ideal for its intended use. Keeping the design of a commercial build-out functional is a good idea. You can then explore and incorporate various energy-saving elements and methods. This will be beneficial in the long run.  

Plan Approval Stage

Now that you’re done with the designs, we now venture into the plan approval stage. Here, your plans are checked against zoning restrictions and building codes to ensure that they are compliant. Your commercial builder should be capable of handling this with ease. To avoid non-compliance, have your contractor guide you from the beginning of the design process. Hiring an expert Sacramento tilt-up contractor ensures that your plans have covered the basic rules and guidelines.

Our friends over at Turek’s Plumbing, Appleton Kitchen remodel company, provided us with some great advice. Since they are in Wisconsin, they have different codes for the harsh winter. They advise that if you live in an area with additional codes for weather permits, such as Florida, you will need to ensure that your plans take that into account because of hurricane season.

Additionally, your building plans will need to be approved with sewer lines. The plans have to not only suit your needs but those of the location as well. This is why hiring an experienced general contractor in Sacramento from the get-go is important as they will advise you on all of these regulations. 

Work and Special Permits

Ensure that the commercial construction company you hired has craftsmen who are certified. In addition to this, your contractor should also know what permits apply to your commercial building project. Having your general contractor dealing with permits is both an energy and a time saver. This is because some additions to your project design may require special permits.  Your contractor is in charge of the permits, also makes them responsible for all questions raised.

Materials Needed

The matter concerning materials boils down to the trust relationship you have with your general contractor Sacramento. This is unless you are very knowledgeable on all things construction materials. While the temptation to use cost-effective materials may beckon you, you must explore all the risks involved before making your decision. Having your contractor advise you on whether this may be a good idea is highly recommended. Ensure that the grade of materials to be used is of good quality. 

Additionally, your material choice may be dependent on the environment or its intended function. Some materials may also be regulated in some cases due to the weather.

Beginning Construction

There are several stages involved in the construction phase. The construction is carried out in these stages:

  1. Laying the foundation
  2. Mechanical installations
  3. Installing roofing 
  4. Finishes

It should be noted that before construction can move to the next phase, a municipal authority official needs to assess the stage and give the go-ahead for the project to continue. Headwaters Construction Inc. cautions that this is the phase that experiences the most delays. As follows, even if the paperwork is in order and all, there may be a delay. A lot usually happens in this phase, so you should accept from the beginning that things may not go according to your timeline. 

However, your ground-up construction contractor should keep watch for any delays that may occur in the future and find ways to prevent them from happening so that the project can meet its deadline. 

Managing the Building Process

The last stage in this phase is managing the building process. Here, your contractor should also supervise any sub-contractors that may be on-site and relay information on the project’s progress at every stage.  

With the right set of professionals and an expert contractor from a reputable commercial construction company, any project, no matter the size, will run smoothly without any hitches. Headwaters Construction Inc. is just the commercial builder for you if you want a hassle-free project. Contact Headwaters Building today and let us discuss how we can bring your dream to reality.