{"id":17998,"date":"2022-07-28T10:43:13","date_gmt":"2022-07-28T15:43:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sevansolutions.kantsios.com\/?p=17998"},"modified":"2022-12-16T13:22:19","modified_gmt":"2022-12-16T19:22:19","slug":"five-tips-for-safer-construction-and-remodel-projects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sevansolutions.kantsios.com\/en-gb\/five-tips-for-safer-construction-and-remodel-projects\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Tips for Safer Construction and Remodel Projects"},"content":{"rendered":"
Creating impactful safety guidelines and reporting systems not only help construction companies save money, but most importantly they help save lives. It is estimated that 1 in 5 deaths among workers in the U.S. happens in the construction industry. Nearly 67% of construction workers feel there are higher standards for productivity than for safety. Companies that prioritize safety can actually see a reduction in their costs while increasing productivity. In 2019, the average cost of medically consulted injuries was $42,000 and the average cost per death was $1.2 million. OSHA estimates that for every dollar invested in health and safety programs, companies can save $4 – $6 in injury and accidental death costs.<\/p>\n
Although robust at-risk work safety guidelines are in place to minimize the risk of accidents, there is always the risk of injury if the project doesn\u2019t follow proper safety protocols. Organizations who create plans to address issues before they arise as well as properly communicate and train their staff significantly reduce the chances of an on-site injury. Sevan\u2019s safety professionals train and document all safety incidents and near misses to address issues before they become serious.<\/p>\n
Below are five best practices our safety specialists have developed to safely complete construction and remodel projects:<\/strong><\/p>\n A job hazard analysis (JHA) report is used to identify any potential risks associated with completing a task for a project. A project can consist of many individual tasks, which all have unique steps and requirements to complete each one safely. Effective JHA reports break down each task and will evolve as the project changes. These reports might look different for each company that utilizes them, but the following information should always be part of a JHA:<\/p>\n The JHA should always be reviewed and updated when new information is presented.<\/p>\n JHAs are most effective when new safety information is added. Unfortunately, many updates are made after a safety incident occurs. A great way to update JHAs before safety incidents occur is by implementing a near miss reporting system. A near miss is an unplanned event that almost resulted in illness, injury or property damage. Reporting on these incidents helps Safety Managers update processes and JHA reports to ensure those conditions do not reoccur.<\/p>\n A successful near miss reporting system captures sufficient data for statistical analysis, correlation studies, tending and performance measurement. To capture that data, anyone involved in the near miss needs to feel enabled to report on the incident without being punished. As long as the incident didn\u2019t occur due to gross negligence, the reporting system must be non-punitive and, if desired by the person reporting, anonymous. An investigation of the near miss incident helps identify the root cause and weaknesses in the system that caused the circumstances leading to the near miss and improve future safety procedures.<\/p>\n An effective near miss reporting system should include the following information: <\/strong><\/p>\n Being able to recognize and report a near miss incident can greatly improve overall safety and enhance an organization\u2019s safety culture.<\/p>\n Personal protective equipment, or PPE, is the last line of defense against workplace hazards. PPE is essential to help at-risk workers to perform their jobs safely. All PPE has a shelf life, the length of time for which an item remains useable. Several factors can affect the life span of PPE including the material, the amount of usage and the level of exposure to external hazards such as chemicals and dirt. To make sure safety equipment is properly maintained and accounted for, it is imperative to have an equipment condition checklist for each article of PPE used for a job.<\/p>\n An appropriate equipment conditions checklist will include the following information:<\/strong><\/p>\n PPE prepares workers for any health and safety risks and provides extra protection against the event of an unfortunate occurrence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Safety threats can present themselves during any stage of a job, but many things can be done to mitigate these risks. A crucial step to creating a safe work environment is ensuring the job site stays organized. If tools, equipment, materials and any other components of a worksite are not properly placed in a designated area after a shift, the risk for injury rises considerably. Outside of safety concerns, organized job sites help speed up the construction phase since there is a uniform process to locate necessary tools and equipment.<\/p>\n Creating equipment stations with check-in and check-out logs is a great way to keep the worksite organized. These stations help construction managers record who is using the equipment and where they are located. This system also helps create accountability and holds each person responsible for returning the equipment. Implementing this system will considerably mitigate the chances of injury and help keep the worksite much more organized.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Any safety initiative a company tries to implement will not be successful without a great communication plan. Safety doesn\u2019t become engrained in a company\u2019s culture if it is not communicated from the top-down and touched upon frequently. Having proper communication initiatives greatly helps to mitigate worksite safety incidents.<\/p>\n Below are several key communication initiatives that can be used to promote a safe workplace:<\/strong><\/p>\n These proactive steps are all ways to help incidents be predictable and preventable, resulting in a healthy and safe environment for everyone. Understanding how to properly identify risks before they happen, navigating potential issues while work is being done and reporting on new information for future use can help reduce the number of safety incidents that occur. Safety is a major building block of Sevan\u2019s DNA and is one of our core tenants. Our Safety Team is dedicated to ensuring safety standards are upheld for our company and our clients. We work with some of the world\u2019s biggest brands like Walgreens and BP and others to help them implement company-wide safety standards for their development and remodel programs.<\/p>\n\n
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