We recognize June as Safety Month. While this is important in every field of work, residential construction has some unique risks and dangers that need to be considered.
At RVI, we take the safety of our employees and customers seriously. Here are some of the ways we make sure our workers stay safe on construction sites, plus some of the key risks to keep in mind.
What to remember about safety in residential construction
The first – and most obvious – construction safety risk is fall prevention. A construction site presents many dangers for falling, from ladders to scaffolding and stilts. A bad fall can result in serious injury to the individual, their colleagues, or even death.
Tradespeople and contractors are extensively trained to reduce the risk of falls by making sure people working up high have the appropriate space and safety equipment to conduct their work safely. In addition, anyone working on scaffolding and ladders needs the correct training for such work.
With Safety Month falling in June, heat stress is also a particularly timely topic to consider. Working construction sites in the hot summer months presents many risks! We always aim to be proactive and mindful about protecting against heat stress. Working hard in the sun can lead to overheating, rapid dehydration, headaches, dizziness, or even loss of consciousness.
We encourage our employees to take regular breaks with plenty of water and time out of the sun.
On average, tradespeople should drink about one cup of water every fifteen minutes to stay adequately hydrated throughout the day.
Stay safe by drinking water throughout the day, protecting yourself from the sun with sunscreen, hats, breathable clothing, and regular breaks in the shade to avoid the negative effects of heat stress.
How RVI maintains safety all year round
At RVI, we take safety seriously at all times of the year. At the start of every day, we hold Morning Shop Coffee Talks to talk about safety topics. As well as going over any ongoing safety measures, like those mentioned above, this is also a good opportunity to make employees aware of timely factors, like particularly high temperatures or new equipment.
The conversation about safety doesn’t end once the coffee is finished! We also make sure that everyone takes regular breaks on the job to discuss safety. What’s more, it’s vital that all of our workers are up-to-date on the relevant training for their roles.
We also adapt throughout the year, starting earlier in the summer months to work in the cooler temperatures and taking extra care in extreme weather, like rain and snow.
How do you encourage safe practices on your job sites? We’re always looking to hear fresh ideas, so let us know in the comments down below.
Do your friends and colleagues a favor this Safety Month and share this blog, so we can all stay safe in June and throughout the year!
