Construction Site Safety Tips for Contractors

Improving Construction Site Safety Yields Big Benefits

Strong accident prevention measures can reap rewards such as improved project quality, better retention of skilled employees and greater return on investment.

Construction crew member working diligently, wearing safety equipment

June 28, 2017

Not only is it the right thing to do, but enhancing safety on the construction site also makes sound business sense. A study by Dodge Data & Analytics found that project quality, staff retention, return on investment and ability to attract new staff were all positively impacted when there was a strong safety program in place.

Although increased safety awareness, enhanced procedures and new technology are improving safety on the construction site, there is still more to do. Of the 5,333 people who died from a work-related injury in the private sector in 2019, nearly 20 percent were employed in the construction industry, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

That doesn’t include the thousands of construction workers who are injured each year, resulting in missed days of work, project delays, damage to costly equipment and materials, and increased workers’ compensation premiums.

General safety tips for contractors

Click through the slideshow below to see some effective general contractor safety tips.

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Industry-specific safety tips

Carpenters

Be sure to use power tools with clutches and safety guards. Never carry a nail gun with the trigger depressed or use bump-fire mode when close to other workers. Also, make sure the blade guards are functioning correctly on power saws. Protruding reinforcement bars should always have safety endcaps added.

Electricians

Be sure to use cable strippers instead of knives. Always utilize appropriate lockout/tagout procedures.

Plumbers

Wear safety glasses, gloves, and a face mask or respirator to avoid exposure to lead, sulfur dioxides, asbestos and mold. Always use earplugs: 48% of plumbers report hearing loss, according to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Make sure to fit protective caps to the end of all thread droppers, and use mechanical devices to lift and hold pipes in position.

Drywall Hangers

Always use sheet lifters to lift drywall sheets.

Roofers

Roofers who use personal fall arrest systems (PFAS) should provide a harness for each worker who needs to tie off to the anchor. Make sure the PFAS fits properly and is regularly inspected.

Heavy Equipment Operators

Use high-grip gloves, keep boots clean of mud, avoid carrying objects when climbing, and use secure hand and foot holds. The number one cause of injury related to heavy machinery is simply getting on and off machines. To mitigate some of these risks, rope off the swing radius around heavy machinery. Heavy equipment operators should also make sure crane wheels are chocked and safety cones are placed in front of and behind the vehicle. Be on guard for possible impediments, including scaffolding, potholes, steep grades, overhangs, pedestrians and low-hanging power lines.

High-tech safety tips

Recent innovations in technology also have the potential to increase safety on the job site.

Wearable wireless safety systems store workers’ training certifications and control access to site locations or work areas based on credentials. Some also act as a call button to summon help in an emergency.
Personal cooling jackets and hard-hat fans create airflow around the body to vaporize sweat, reducing heat-related risks in hot climates.
4-D planning tools help show where equipment should be placed to maximize safety.
Injury prediction models can be incorporated into an existing safety program. Look for those that use machine-learning predictive models.

Two construction workers watch as drone hovers above job site in the distance.

Learn how investing in smart technologies can make construction sites safer and reduce insurance premiums.

When accidents happen

No amount of preventive measures can stop all accidents. That’s why it’s also essential to have comprehensive liability insurance, which can provide protection against lawsuits and other financial liabilities resulting from accidents or other mishaps.

Consider insurance such as Argo Pro’s Contractors PROtect^SM solution, which offers protection for claims arising from professional liability and pollution incidents.

Contractors PROtect also provides coverage for supplemental payments, including crisis management expenses, appearance at proceedings, disciplinary proceedings, subpoena assistance, and ADA, FHA and OSHA legal expense reimbursements.

About Argo Pro

Argo Pro, a member of Argo Group, is a leading provider of professional lines insurance products and services that can accommodate medium and large organizations on an admitted and non-admitted basis. Through a single operating platform and a robust network of appointed wholesale and retail distribution partners, Argo Pro offers a broad, customizable portfolio of errors and omissions and management liability insurance solutions. Argo Pro maintains offices in Chicago, New York City, San Francisco, Scottsdale (Arizona) and Hamilton Township (New Jersey).

Learn more about Contractors PROtect^SM.