Essential Training For Construction Workers

Construction is a dangerous industry to work in, relatively speaking. According to statistics presented by the Health and Safety Executive, taken from the Labour Force Survey averaged between 2019 and 2022, there were around 78,000 workers suffering from work-related ill health.

It is the legal responsibility of employers to provide a safe working environment for site workers, and this means providing not only the right equipment but the right training too.

Appropriate Work Wear

Construction workers will benefit from wearing appropriate clothing and protective equipment but it isn’t always made clear exactly what this should consist of. Everything should be designed to ensure that the worker is maximally comfortable, functional, and safe. This means workwear that can be used without compromising the worker’s ability to perform their job. For example, heavy protective gloves might get in the way, or actually be actively dangerous if the worker is operating power tools, so something lighter and more flexible might be preferable.

Depending on the job being performed, construction workers should wear protective equipment on their ears, feet, head and hands as well as the use of high visibility clothing, all of which are required by law when carrying out work on a construction site. Eye protection should still be used, however, when there’s a risk of flying sparks and pieces of debris from a tool like a reciprocating saw or power drill.

Correct Use of PPE

Employees should be instructed in the appropriate use of PPE, which means using it only when the risk cannot be removed. If the environment is dangerous, then the first solution should be an attempt to lessen or even eliminate the risk, if possible. A recommended method to instil is the use of the hierarchy of controls which is proven to be an effective method of recognising whether the PPE should be regarded as an essential requirement.

The hierarchy of controls advises to consider the circumstances as follows:

-          Elimination – removal of the hazard.

-          Substitution – if the hazard cannot be removed, can it be replaced with a safer alternative?

-          Engineering controls – remove any one effect away from the hazard.

-          Administrative control – introducing a safer, alternative method of working.

-          Personal protective equipment – Provide workers with the correct form of PPE.

It is also important to know that if PPE is determined as an essential requirement, you should ensure that the correct form of PPE is being used in the right circumstances. For example, particular types of face coverings will be required depending on the job at hand. Deciding which PPE is appropriate can be determined by considering who is being exposed and to what, what are they exposed to and for how long.

Heavy Lifting and Manual Handling

Picking up heavy objects can result in significant injury, especially if it’s done using the inappropriate technique. It should be taught to lift from the knees while engaging the core and keeping the back straight. Ideally, if necessary, heavy loads should be lifted by two people or moved using furniture sliders or a platform dolly. If there is a chance of any form of injury occurring from any given lift, and the lift is performed many times a day for years on end, then injury becomes inevitable and can put a significant strain on productivity. Additionally, for tasks requiring the movement of large or heavy objects, renting a skid steer or other appropriate machinery can greatly reduce the risk of injury and improve efficiency in handling such loads.

In circumstances where lifting operations require moving larger objects via specialist equipment, the law stipulates that such operations must be properly planned and executed by a competent and qualified individual. This includes the use of cranes, hoists and gin wheels which should be properly inspected before use. Improper use of such equipment could result in serious injury or even fatalities.

Working At Height

Those working with scaffolding, or at a height, should be trained in appropriate safety practices. Working at a height should be regarded as a task to be carried out as a last resort. Where the assignment cannot be avoided, steps should be made to ensure the task can be completed in the safest way possible. Workers who are regularly exposed to working at a height should be enrolled in official industry training board programmes such as the Rooftop Safety Training Standard which provides training in working in different weather conditions, implanting work safety systems, fall restraint systems, tie-off and anchor points.

First aid at work

Of course, however stringent the training is, we can’t reduce the likelihood of an accident to zero. As such, it’s important to be able to react when accidents do occur. Training in first aid can make a critical difference in this situation. There should always be a trained first-aid worker on-site, and ideally several of them. Courses are of a high quality, and readily available – as such, there’s no reason not to take them.