7 Tips to Conduct Construction Site Inspection While Keeping Safety in Mind

Construction site safety inspections are the responsibility of any supervisor, contractor, or building manager. By knowing the dangers and possible risks and hazards that may harm your employees, you are taking the first step towards problem acknowledgment and injury prevention.

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However, while you’re doing these inspections, unforeseen incidents may occur unexpectedly. Similar to how you would keep the working site ready for any emergency, as you roam around with your inspection team, you should also exhibit the same level of preparedness when conducting the safety inspection.

How ironic would it be to be involved in an accident while aiming to prevent workplace mishaps? To avoid such situations make sure to follow the proper safety and precautionary protocols. Workplace and construction site safety is not a one-person job.

For you to successfully eradicate the chances of fatality and injury, everyone has to work together in practicing safety habits and promoting a culture of caution. You can begin doing that with these tips:

• Be Wary of Surroundings

There’s a difference between seeing and looking when inspecting a construction site. The former only processes the visual input and observations without any actual analysis of what could be the possible dangers, while the latter is a more inquisitive approach that looks at every corner of the site with alertness and vigilance.

As a worksite inspector, you should always employ the use of looking and analytical observation when trying to evaluate a site. Not only will that help you garner a more complete report but you’ll also be able to avoid any possible danger that may come your way.

Keep in mind that not all risks and hazards are obvious to the naked eye. Always search and report any lurking potential danger. If you think a part of the area is unsafe, list it down, document it, and report it right away. However, make sure that you are at a safe distance when doing this. 

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• Adapt to Unpredictable Weather

The weather’s unpredictability is one of the main enemies of construction sites. Any change in the elements can hinder and affect the safety and progress of the area in a matter of seconds.

Any strong winds may blow some debris. Heavy rain may cause landslides or erosion of precious silt and gravel, while sunny weather may tire out workers at a faster rate. The problems may seem endless, but you just have to roll with these weather shifts as you can’t change them.

What you’ll have to do is adapt to them by preparing the needed equipment, attire, and emergency plans, when such weather fluctuations will drastically affect the site. Provide raincoats, sunblock, water, and more to ensure you and your employees’ comforts and safety. 

• Don Proper Attire

While safety tools, like a forklift rear guard or lockout tags, can keep most accidents at bay, it’s better to augment these with other safety gadgets. From goggles, gloves, hard hats, boots, neon clothing, and more, the protective equipment for any construction site across the globe has little to no difference.

Make sure to follow protocol by wearing the proper protective gear while conducting the inspection. Set up a good example for your employees by showing that you value workplace safety just as much as them. 

• Have a First Aid kit in Hand

Any worksite is required to have a first-aid kit, no matter what level of risks and hazards the employees may face on the job. While you’re conducting the inspection, make sure to bring it with you, so you can respond to any injury or emergency if ever the need arises. 

You should also bring in certified personnel with you that can act as first aid responders if needed. If you don’t know how to use the proper techniques and tools, don’t bother conducting first aid as it may harm the injured employee even more. 

• Promote a Happy Work Mood

A construction site, with all the noise, heavy loads, and sweaty labor can be a very stressful area. As workers run frantically to and fro to finish the required tasks, bumping into them and disturbing their tasks can easily be committed when you’re doing the inspection. 

If you’re planning to walk around and inspect, better inform your employees first and allow them to work happily by offering multiple break times, conducive scheduling, and open employee-to-boss communication. 

• Mind the Staff Population

Overstaffing and understaffing your worksite can pose dangerous risks to you and your employees. The former can cause panic and commotion, while the latter can cause mix-ups, overtime, and overfatigued employees.

Before you do the actual inspection, don’t forget to inspect the well-being of your employees as well. Try to lessen the ground staff by giving them breaks while you’re inspecting to lessen the traffic. 

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• Stay Disciplined and Organized

The value of discipline and organization can help any team become safer and more productive.

By instilling these habits into every aspect of your construction site, you’ll be able to lessen the number of hazards better as the construction site becomes cleaner and de-cluttered. Have the proper signage, warnings, and protocols to ensure that your employees are never lost and always informed.