Safety is a critical concern for any contractor. Every construction site must meet the minimum safety requirements to ensure the safety of personnel and third parties who might access the site. This extract details the various types of safety equipment contractors should have at their sites.
Height Safety Equipment
A significant risk at most, if not all, construction sites is that employees have to work at heights. There is a wide range of equipment that guarantees the safety of employees as they work at heights. For instance, a scaffold is often used for masonry works. It consists of a series of horizontal platforms which allow employees to work at different levels. The primary benefit of scaffolds is that they can bear massive weights. Therefore, you do not have to worry if you have tens or hundreds of employees working at a time. Suspended scaffolding is a unique piece of equipment that hangs from the top of the building. It is a single platform that is several meters wide. It is often used for light works such as HVAC installation, electrical repairs, window cleaning, and painting.
In some cases, contractors opt to use aerial platforms such as scissor lifts. These lifts may not be ideal for masonry works. However, they are perfect for electrical wiring, painting, installation of gutters, and lifting heavy equipment.
Traffic Control Equipment
Proper traffic control will significantly improve the efficiency of your site. It prevents downtime caused by traffic snarl-ups. For example, you could experience a gridlock if trucks use the wrong exits and entrances. Traffic signage will direct trucks to their parking lots, exits, and entry points. Besides, you can use no entry signs to prevent truck drivers from using routes with hazards such as open utility holes, pits, clay soil, or low-lying wires. If you have heavy vehicle traffic at the site, consider traffic lights to prevent traffic jams.
Essential Safety Measures
Essential safety measures are fire prevention and control equipment that helps prevent fires and minimise fire damage. Ideally, you should ask an expert to examine your site operations and recommend fire control equipment. For example, you should have appropriate extinguishers installed at strategic locations. Besides, you should have proper signage to direct people to the exit points and fire assembly points. An emergency water supply would come in handy once a fire breaks out.
Personal Protective Equipment
Personal protective equipment (PPE) refers to gears that protect your employees from injury in case of an accident. For example, a safety harness protects employees working at heights. Should they slip, the harness holds them and prevents them from falling. Other safety gear includes boots, reflective jackets, helmets, and gloves.
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