The construction job site safety audit
can be a critical tool for keeping your projects on time and under
budget. On going attention to safety and loss control is the ounce of
prevention that's worth a pound of cure.
A regular process, that identifies and then corrects or removes work site hazards, efficiently minimizes accidents and injuries.
Here are nine relatively common safety issues that were revealed by a regular construction job site safety audit:
- Trenching
- Excessive trench depth increases collapse hazard
- Work must only proceed where collapse protection is in place
- Collapses protection can be provided with proper sloping.
- Containers - Gas cans must be clearly labeled as to contents and hazards.
- Rigging Slings - Rigging must be taken out of service when heavily damaged or when wear detectors are visible.
- Stairs - Stairs need to be properly constructed with consistent rise and run, secured treads, and stair rails in place.
- Office Trailers - Unused access and entrance doors must be physically blocked from use to avoid falls.
- Loading Platforms - Railings, to prevent falls, must have mid and top rails in place. Under certain conditions chains can be used.
- Flammable Liquid Storage
- A Flammable Storage Cabinet must be installed and used in any
building or trailer where over 25 gallons of flammable liquids are
stored.
- Fire Extinguishers - Storage trailers containing flammable or combustible materials must have fire extinguishers within 50 foot proximity.
- Ladders - Damaged ladders or ladder sections must be tagged "Do Not Use" until removed from the job site and destroyed.
The
loss control audit by a safety officer or safety consultant provides
important focus on the prevention of accidents and injuries in busy
work environments.
In this example, nine safety issues were
found. The hazards were identified before there were any injuries or
accidents. Corrective action was immediate for some of the issues,
while others required scheduling. Either way business interruption was
kept to a minimum.
To take a look at the details of this loss control audit, including photos, please click on construction job site safety audit.
Additional briefs on the subject of industrial safety, environmental health and safety, and loss control are available at:
http://www.osha-compliance-and-loss-control-solutions.com/environmental-safety-articles.html.
Rayce
Bannon is a freelance writer working closely with Evan Casey and the
staff at Great Lakes Environmental and Safety Consultants, Inc.
