Keeping office staff, contractors, subcontractors, and other workers at a site safe from injury or illness has become more difficult. The greater amount of contact any single employee has with someone else, the harder it is to avoid issues occurring. And given that people don’t work in a bubble, returning home to live with their families or shared accommodation, contaminants can easily be brought into the workplace from outside.
In these difficult times, it is more important than ever to take care of everyone on the job site or in the office. Here are 4 ways to keep workers safe and sound this year.
1. Provide Hand Washing Areas
The suitability of a hand washing station will vary depending on the type of premises and work situation presented. However, a buffer zone must be created to screen anyone who is either entering or re-entering the work area or office from outside. Doing so protects the people who are busy at work from being exposed.
There are different types of stations for hand washing. Some are simple temporary upright stations for washing the hands and others are more extensive, allowing the hands, forearms, and elbows to be sanitized safely. Choose the most appropriate arrangement that matches the situation to avoid any dangerous germs from coming into the premises. Also, you might want to perform non-contact temperature checks at all entry points.
2. Screen Visitors Appropriately
Any visitors are just as likely to be a concern as day workers. Don’t make this an oversight or something that’s skipped for VIPs. Ensure that there are secure facilities to perform temperature checks. After that, there should be a way to sanitize their hands upon arrival. By ensuring that no one is left out of the screening process, it makes it better for all. Also, employees feel more protected while they earn a living.
3. Preventing Injuries on a Work Site
Any worksite, including one that has some construction taking place, is inherently risky for people to be present. While it’s impossible to prevent all accidents on a site with many people, materials, and activities taking place, they can be actively minimized.
Look out for the following things:
- Falling hazards like scaffolding, materials falling off high levels, ladders toppling over, etc.
- Excavations are particularly hazardous for a worker to get buried accidentally
- Poor communication due to faulty walkie-talkies
- Live wiring or other electrical equipment not secured or made safe
- Unanticipated movement using diggers, forklift trucks, or larger trucks during deliveries
All people on-site must wear protective clothing including reflective attire, gloves, strong work boots with toe protection, and a helmet. Regular checks on workers to ensure they’re adhering to these requirements and replacing any safety equipment as needed are necessary too.
4. Protect Employees from Each Other
Along with equipment and movement, employees sometimes potentially come to blows when tempers flare-up. While this is less of a concern in the office, out on a construction site, people are sometimes less mindful of their behavior. It’s up to management to ensure a happy working environment that provides a safe place to work. This includes the women in the workforce who can sometimes face unexpected harassment.
There are many approaches to keeping workers and visitors safe on the premises. Whether it’s a construction site or a temporary office, more can always be done to enhance safety for all.
