Each year, thousands of young men and women begin part-time or summer construction jobs. Construction sites change day to day, even hour to hour. A wall, pipe, or wire that wasn’t there yesterday may seemingly appear overnight. There are also many different trades working on a site at one time. Due to the ever-changing nature of construction sites, it is important to remember a few important safety tips.
PPE can help protect you from physical and health hazards or potential hazards; and should be worn at all times while on a construction site. If you are unsure about what PPE to use or do not have the appropriate PPE, ask your supervisor.
You should wear a hard hat at all times on a construction site to prevent head injuries that are caused or by other objects that may strike your head. Hard hats accomplish two things: resist penetration by the object and absorb shock.
You should wear safety glasses or goggles on the construction sire to prevent eye injuries that occur when foreign objects come in contact with the eyes. During any job where chipping, grinding, masonry work, woodwork, sawing, drilling, sanding, or painting is being done, eye protection must be worn.
Safety footwear protects toes and feet from being crushed when heavy objects are accidentally dropped. Safety footwear is needed when carrying or handling materials such as lumber, sheetrock, decking, shingles, or heavy tools and for other activities where objects might fall onto your feet. Proper safety footwear is standard dress when working in the construction industry.
You should check with your supervisor before using gloves, because different types of gloves protect the hands from different chemical or physical hazards. Gloves prevent cuts, abrasions, burns, and splinters from injuring the hands. Wear gloves when handling heavy loads of materials to help protect your hands from cuts and splinters. Gloves also prevent materials from slipping out of your hands.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, back injuries accounted for 20 percent of the total cases reported for 2008 that required days away from work. The median days away from work for back injuries are seven. To prevent back injuries use these simple lifting techniques:
Construction jobs are a great way to earn money and learn valuable skills. However they can pose many possible dangers. By following all safety rules set forth by your employer you can enjoy a productive career in the construction industry.
Remember to practice safety. Don’t learn it by accident.
Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation (TDI-DWC) offers several free back injury prevention publications online at www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/safety/videoresources/index.html including, Personal Protective Equipment Fact Sheet, Back Injury Prevention (English and Spanish), Back Injury Prevention, and Safety Training Program.
TDI-DWC also features a free occupational safety and health audiovisual loan library. Call 512-804-4620 for more information or visit our website at www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/safety/videoresources/avcatalog.html
This Take 5 was published with information from OSHA Teen Workers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation and is considered accurate at the time of publication.
The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation
Resource Center: 512-804-4620
resourcecenter@tdi.state.tx.us
Safety Violations Hotline: 1-800-452-9595
safetyhotline@tdi.state.tx.us
Publication #: HS99-001F (09-10 )
Disclaimer and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears by permission of the author and/or copyright holder. More
