How to Prevent Accidents at Construction Sites in New York
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), construction fatalities and injuries are, for the most part, preventable. Every year, over a thousand construction workers are killed in a variety of accidents. These fatalities are even more tragic when realizing that incidents such as falls (which kill over 300 construction workers each year) could have been avoided if everyone had been following appropriate safety protocols. Read on for a discussion of several of the steps that any construction worksite should take to avoid preventable accidents. Speak with a compassionate New York construction accident lawyer if you or a family member has been hurt on a construction site in the Hudson Valley.
Proper Safety Training
Safety training is essential for avoiding construction accidents. Workers should be instructed on safety regulations, policies and procedures, and they should be properly trained for any special piece of equipment they may operate. If someone has never used a crane, they should not be permitted to “just wing it.” Supervisors should regularly remind workers about proper safety protocol. It may seem tedious over time, but it saves limbs and lives.
Regular Crew Meetings About Safety
Likewise, it is important to have an open dialogue about safety issues. If oversights are recurring, they should be addressed at crew-wide meetings. If additional hazards are expected, or if people do not seem to appreciate certain dangers, these should be discussed as well. The more people are reminded of safety protocol and concerns, the less likely they will be to let something slip that could cause a catastrophic accident. Safe construction worksites come from the top down.
Clean Up After Each Task
Many construction accidents happen simply because someone tripped over a discarded wrench, an extension cord, or a slippery spill. At construction worksites, slips, trips, and falls can easily turn into catastrophic and even fatal accidents. Heights, heavy machinery, and dangerous chemicals are everywhere. By ensuring that all tools are put away and all areas cleaned after each task, every worker will be that much less prone to needless accidents.
Proper Protective Equipment
It may sound obvious, but it is something that should be hammered home for every construction worker by their supervisors, safety compliance personnel, and other workers: Wear proper safety equipment. Masks, goggles, gloves, rubber suits, vests, helmets, and other PPE are vital in ensuring that a worker does not lose a finger, an eye, a leg, or their life. Employers and contractors may be obligated to provide appropriate equipment to their workers.
Prepare the Workspace Every Day
Keeping a construction site safe is an ongoing job. Every day before getting started, the team should inspect the workspace for any hazards. Structures may have shifted or weakened overnight due to weather or wear and tear, and unexpected objects may be hidden around the site. Structural weaknesses, loose objects, wet floors, and all other kinds of hazards can lead to serious injury if the team does not take time to inspect the site each morning before starting and periodically throughout the day.
If you or someone you care about has been hurt in a construction accident in New York, find out if you have a right to compensation for your injuries by contacting the knowledgeable and dedicated Hudson Valley personal injury lawyers at Rusk, Wadlin, Heppner & Martuscello, LLP, for a free consultation at 845-331-4100 (Kingston) or 845-236-4411 (Marlboro).
