The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reported in 2015 that one out of every five fatal work-related injuries were in construction. Think about that- whenever someone is fatally injured on the job, there is a 20% chance they are in construction.

Construction site safety has long been one of the building industry’s top concerns, and there have been improvements in recent years to help mitigate risk and prevent injuries.

But those of us in the construction industry know there are many different priorities on a job site that require attention. Most contractors run their own business, and spend the bulk of their time managing multiple client projects.

Crew safety falls on shoulders of the contractor, and thankfully, there are some simple safety measures that even the busiest contractors can take to ensure that their work sites are safe for everyone.

Enforce Safe Dress Codes

Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to see members of contracting crews forego breathing masks, hard hats, and other safety gear when working. This lax attitude can put laborers at risk of injury, and your company at risk of liability. Avoid the danger by faithfully enforcing a safety-focused dress code on site. This dress code should also be applied to your clients and any others who might visit the site while work is in progress.

Safety Communication with Clients

When it comes to your homeowner clients, have a talk with them before the project begins to cover all of the unique safety concerns regarding the site. You should discuss how your crew is addressing each of those concerns, as well as how the customer can contribute.

Before you start work, ask the property owner if they know of any toxic materials that are present. Many homes built before 1980 were constructed with asbestos, and homes built before 1978 likely contain lead paint.

If their homes fall into those categories, you should advise your client that an inspection will need to be made (if it hasn’t been done already) and a specialized removal crew will be required for safe disposal of the toxic materials. Doing this before your crew gets to work will prevent accidental exposure and make it easier to contain the material for disposal.

Train and Re-Train

A recent study showed that in New York, two-thirds of all construction worker deaths occurred under employers who did not have state-approved safety training programs. Each member of your crew should go through a state-approved safety training program at the start of their employment, and take refresher courses periodically to update their knowledge.

Your safety training should address the proper use of safety gear, equipment, and machinery, as well as basic precautions such as how to conduct oneself at heights or transport tools and materials.

Don’t Leave Inexperienced Crew Members Unsupervised

Every green crew member needs to gain experience, but not at the expense of site safety.

Inexperienced workers should only be assigned to tasks after they’ve been thoroughly trained on how to perform them safely, and even then, it should be done under the close supervision of a qualified superior. After the green worker has completed the task, always have the superior inspect the results to make sure that nothing is left in a hazardous condition.

Have a Cell Phone Policy

Frequently checking mobile devices not only leads to less productivity—it can be a safety hazard. All it takes is one worker paying more attention to his phone than his power tool for something to go wrong.

Determine when workers can check their phones. Consider different rules for different positions or stations. Checking a phone while filling out paperwork is very different than texting while operating a bulldozer.

Do you use cell phones to communicate on the jobsite? Think about who needs a mobile device, and when they need it. Whatever you decide, keep safety in mind.

Use Safety Signage

Even on the smallest crews, safety signage can be useful to bridge gaps in communication. Having the right safety signs in place can alert your crew members to hazards they weren’t yet made aware of, or simply serve as a useful reminder. Encourage your crew to put out appropriate safety signs so that they (and any visitors or clients on site) will always be aware of hazards.

Some commonly used for construction signs indicate when head, eye, or ear protection must be worn, when fall risks are present, when wet material is drying, and when live electric wires or machinery are active. Signs can also be used to show what items, activities, and visitors are restricted from the site.

Avoid Overwork and Hot Conditions

Construction workers are known for putting in long, tough hours. But too much hard work can actually create an unsafe environment on site. Fatigue is estimated to be a major cause of workplace accidents. Schedule your workers so that their hours aren’t excessive, and be on the lookout for any crew members who may be overexerting themselves. Meeting deadlines is a top priority of construction work, but your crew’s safety shouldn’t be sacrificed for it.

Build a Culture of Safety Around Your Work Sites

Building a culture of safety means taking the steps necessary to educate both your crew and homeowner clients on the importance of safety, as well as the ways they can uphold safety standards on site. With your crew, encourage them to not only engage in safe practices themselves, but to also protect their teammates by calling attention to any hazards they spot. The ideal attitude should be one of keeping an eye out for each other, not criticism.

One safe habit your entire crew should prioritize is keeping up to date on OSHA and other industry safety codes. Staying abreast of updates will keep your team educated on the best safety protocols and ensure you can make immediate changes if regulations call for it. When OSHA and other relevant authorities issue updates to their codes, make a point of going over the changes with your team members and giving them access to the new code documentation.

Safe habits to encourage include:

• Inspecting materials, equipment, and safety gear before use
• Asking team members to check their personal safety gear
• Cleaning up materials and equipment when they’re not in use
• Alerting all crew members before starting potentially hazardous tasks
• Correcting any safety infractions observed
• Restricting use of cell phones or handheld radios while operating machinery
• Washing hands and face before eating; eating away from the work site
• Doing a daily walkthrough of the site to look for any new hazards

Plan for Safety

You can ensure that safety precautions aren’t just discussed, but can take steps towards building your own job safety program, by visiting OSHA’s website for further resources and documentation.

Adopting these safety measures as a part of your regular work practices will go a long way toward keeping your labor crew safe, your clients happy, and your business running.