10 Simple Administrative Controls For A Safer Construction Site

June 2, 2023

10 Simple Administrative Controls For A Safer Construction Site

Construction sites are known for their inherent hazards and high risk of injuries and accidents. As per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 21,400 non-fatal injuries are reported to have occurred among labourers in the construction industry. These numbers highlight the need for effective safety measures in construction sites.

Administrative controls are safety measures that focus on the planning, organisation, and management of work activities. They are essential to reduce the risks and improve safety in construction sites. To help you implement the essential safety measures, this article presents 10 simple administrative controls to help create a safer construction site for all your site workers.

• Develop A Safety Plan
  Developing a construction site safety plan is a crucial first step in creating a safer workplace. A safety plan outlines the potential hazards on the site and the measures to control them. It generally includes emergency procedures and evacuation plans. The safety plan can be developed with the input of safety conscious workers, supervisors, and managers to help you identify potential hazards and put appropriate safety measures in place.

  The safety plan should also be reviewed regularly and updated as necessary to ensure it remains relevant and effective. Lastly, all site workers should be trained in the safety plan and aware of their roles and responsibilities.

• Conduct Regular Safety Meetings
  Regular safety meetings are essential to keep workers informed about the potential hazards on the site and the measures to control them. Safety meetings should be conducted on a regular basis, at least once a week. They should cover a range of topics, such as hazard identification, emergency procedures, and personal protective equipment.

  Furthermore, during safety meetings, encourage your site workers to participate and provide feedback. They can provide valuable insights into potential hazards and suggest ways to improve safety on the site. You can also use safety meetings as an opportunity to provide training on new safety procedures and equipment.

  Overall, conducting regular safety meetings can help promote safety culture on the construction site and demonstrate to your workers that safety is a priority.

• Implement A Permit-To-Work System
  Implementing a permit-to-work system is an effective way to control hazardous work activities on a construction site. A permit to work is a formal procedure that ensures that hazardous work is carried out safely. The system requires site workers to obtain a permit before starting work on a hazardous activity.

  This permit will specify the precautions the employee needs to take to ensure the work is carried out safely. The permit-to-work system also ensures that workers are aware of the potential hazards associated with their work and have the necessary training and equipment to carry out the work safely.

• Provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  About 64.3% of workers were reported to encounter accidents on the construction site for several reasons, such as being hit by falling objects and other tool-related accidents. The same source says these accidents were unavoidable if only workers used PPE while performing their tasks.

  Personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential to protect workers from potential hazards on a construction site. PPE includes hard hats, safety glasses, earplugs, and safety boots. You’re responsible for providing workers with the necessary PPE and ensuring that they are trained to use them correctly.

  Providing PPE is an important administrative control that helps prevent accidents and injuries on the construction site. It ensures that your site workers are protected from hazards such as falling objects, flying debris, and loud noise. You must conduct a hazard assessment to determine the appropriate PPE for each job and provide workers with the necessary equipment.

  Furthermore, ensure that all PPEs are properly maintained and replaced when necessary. Workers should be encouraged to report any damaged or worn-out PPE to their supervisors.

• Conduct Regular Safety Inspections
  Conducting regular safety inspections is an essential administrative control that helps identify potential hazards on a construction site. Safety inspections should be conducted on a regular basis, at least once a week, and should cover all areas of the site. Site workers and supervisors should also be involved during safety inspections. They can provide valuable input into potential hazards and suggest ways to improve safety on the site.

• Provide Safety Training

  
  You must ensure all your workers receive the necessary safety training before starting work on the construction site. New workers and hired labourers, such as scaffolding labour hire, should receive an orientation that covers the site’s safety procedures and potential hazards. You must also provide ongoing safety training for your current workers to ensure they’re up to date on the latest safety procedures and equipment.

  Furthermore, safety training should only be conducted by qualified trainers with the necessary knowledge and experience to deliver effective training. Providing safety training can reduce the risk of accidents and injuries on the construction site. Workers who receive construction safety training will also be more aware of potential hazards and are better equipped to work safely.

• Implement A Hazard Reporting System
  A hazard reporting system is a formal procedure that allows workers to report potential hazards on the site. This encourages workers to report potential risks and near-miss incidents, allowing you or other managers to take appropriate measures to control them.

  The hazard reporting system should be easy to use and accessible to all workers. You should also provide workers with the necessary resources to report hazards, such as hazard-reporting forms or a dedicated hazard-reporting hotline.

  Once they’ve reported any hazards, investigate the problem promptly so appropriate measures are taken to control them. Workers should be informed of the outcome of the investigation and the measures taken to control the hazard. Overall, implementing a hazard reporting system can help reduce the risk of injuries and accidents on the construction site.

• Monitor Worker Health
  It’s essential to monitor the health of your workers on a regular basis to identify potential health issues and take appropriate measures to control them. Monitoring work health can involve a range of activities, such as health assessments, medical examinations, and health surveillance. You must also ensure all your workers receive the necessary vaccinations and immunisations to protect them from potential health hazards on the construction site.

  By monitoring work health, you can reduce your workers’ risk of accidents and injuries on the construction site. Workers who are healthy and able to work safely are less likely to be involved in accidents and injuries.

• Implement A Drug And Alcohol Policy
  A drug-and-alcohol policy prohibits the use of drugs and alcohol on the construction site and outlines the consequences of violating the policy. Implementing this ensures that all your workers are not under the influence of substance while at work. Workers found under the influence of drugs or alcohol while at work should be removed from the construction site and may be subject to disciplinary action.

  On another note, you should also provide workers with the necessary resources to seek help for drug or alcohol addiction. This can involve providing information on support services or offering an employee assistance program.

• Provide Adequate Supervision

  
  Adequate supervision is essential to ensure workers follow safety procedures and other construction site rules. It involves having experienced supervisors and managers trained in workplace safety procedures to supervise construction sites.

  Supervisors should be present on the construction site at all times and actively monitor the work being performed. They should also ensure that workers follow safety procedures and use PPE correctly when at work.

Key Takeaway
Implementing administrative controls is essential to creating a safe construction site. Developing a safety plan, conducting regular safety meetings, and implementing a hazard reporting system are just a few of the measures that can help improve safety. By following these simple administrative controls, you can reduce the risks in the workplace and create a safer work environment for your workers.