Infrastructure Safety

How to ensure infrastructure safety during construction

Buildings, roads, bridges, and tunnels all fall under the category of infrastructure; although they differ in purpose, they all share one thing in common: they have to be built before they can be used. The process of building them can be long and tedious, but it also poses its own set of challenges. If it’s not done properly, you could end up with faulty infrastructure or even an unsafe environment. In this article, we look at some ways you can ensure that your civil work safety remains in good condition during construction, as well as provide insight into how the issue should be tackled during demolition work.

Protect yourself

Whenever you're working on a new infrastructure project, there are several ways to protect yourself and your workers. Having proper signage can prevent accidents—and will save you a lot of money in legal fees. When an area is designated as dangerous or off-limits, make sure that no one gets too close; it’s always better to be safe than sorry. For example, if you're building a hydroelectric dam, be sure that no one enters into unauthorized areas and inspect machinery before use. Designating safety hazards clearly is a good first step, but it's important not to forget about yourself or your workers as well.

Safeguards

Construction has one of the highest death rates per million hours worked. In addition, there are tens of thousands of non-fatal injuries every year in US construction workplaces. It's important that owners and contractors take steps to protect their workers. Here are some best practices for keeping workers safe from fall hazards during demolition or new construction projects: 1. Post warning signs and barriers, as required by OSHA 1926 Subpart M and 29 CFR Part 1926 Subpart N (depending on who owns/manages the site)  2. Use guardrails and personal fall arrest systems when working more than 4 feet above a lower level 3. Follow proper procedures when using a ladder 4. Stay alert and watch your step 5. Wear appropriate PPE 6. Don't work alone 7. Ensure scaffolding is inspected regularly 8. Report all incidents immediately

Expect the unexpected

Unfortunately, most accidents are caused by preventable errors. For those projects already past due or those at risk for missing a deadline, taking steps to enhance infrastructure safety should be a priority. Rather than accepting consequences such as costly injuries or fatalities, take precautions that will keep everyone on site safe and sound.

Personal protective equipment

Before beginning a construction project, it’s important that contractors think about their employees’ personal protective equipment (PPE). Safety is an integral part of any work environment and should be addressed at every level. Workers should never begin a task without proper PPE in place. During all phases of your project, make sure everyone has appropriate footwear, hard hats, and more on hand so they are ready when needed. The PPE you choose should also depend on your building materials; if you're working with wood, for example, it's best to go with something sturdy but light like steel-toe boots and gloves.

Site risk assessment

Risk assessment is something that companies often do when they are designing an office or developing a new product. But it's just as important for contractors and those working on projects, such as a building or a bridge, which has already been constructed but needs repairs or retrofitting. Site risk assessment involves analyzing all of your site's potential hazards--from mudslides, earthquakes, tornados, and other natural disasters, to equipment malfunctions and security risks--and prioritizing them based on their severity and likelihood of happening. Here are some questions to consider when performing your site risk assessment

Accident reporting

When we build a bridge, it’s not just about knowing that we’ve done it safely and according to plan. It’s also about knowing what went wrong (if anything) and making sure that those mistakes don’t happen again. That can only happen if we report on accidents; if workers are afraid of reporting an accident, or have no idea who they should talk to, then there is little hope of learning from our mistakes.