Occupational safety is of central importance in the construction industry. Every year, numerous people lose their lives or suffer serious injuries in accidents at work. This makes it all the more important to know the most important health and safety rules and to adhere to them. In this article, you will learn all about health and safety rules in the construction industry and why they are so important.
The most important facts in brief
✓ Construction sites pose a variety of hazards such as fall and drowning risks. The use of safety harnesses and barriers is crucial for the safety of workers.
✓ Occupational health and safety requires careful risk assessment and clear safety plans. Regular safety inspections and training are essential to ensure safe working conditions.
✓ Legal regulations such as the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Construction Site Ordinance must be strictly adhered to.
Dangers on the construction site
Generally speaking, there is an increased risk potential on construction sites. Accidents can quickly occur due to construction materials lying around, poorly lit or poorly visible areas and, above all, the high workloads. This makes it all the more important to pay particular attention to occupational safety on construction sites. But what dangers really lurk on construction sites and how can you protect yourself from them?
One of the greatest dangers in construction is the risk of falling. Many fatal accidents occur because people fall from high scaffolding or roofs. To minimize this risk, a safety harness should always be worn when working at heights. In addition, scaffolding should be regularly inspected and maintained.
Another major danger on construction sites is the risk of drowning. Many accidents are caused by employees falling into open excavation pits or other deep holes and drowning. To minimize this danger, barriers should always be erected around these holes. In addition, no one should climb into a hole without safety equipment.
Working with electricity is particularly dangerous. Accidents often occur because workers come into contact with open electrical cables or because they use defective equipment. To minimize this risk, only insulated tools and equipment should ever be used and open wounds should be treated as quickly as possible. In addition, no one should go near electrical appliances and cables without a hard hat and safety goggles.
All these dangers lurk on the construction site - but with the right precautions, you can protect yourself from them and carry out your work safely.
Occupational health and safety tasks in construction
One of the most important tasks of those responsible for occupational health and safety on construction sites is to organize and carry out safety inspections. At the beginning of every construction project, a thorough inspection of the construction site must be carried out to identify and minimize potential sources of danger. It is also important to carry out regular safety inspections during the ongoing operation of a construction project to ensure that the best possible working conditions are in place.
Another important task of those responsible for occupational health and safety on construction sites is the creation of safety plans and operating instructions. Every construction project should have a detailed safety plan that sets out all measures to protect employees. The safety plan should contain all relevant information, from emergency contact details to rules of conduct in dangerous situations. Furthermore, regular training should be provided for construction personnel. The main aim is to raise awareness of the importance of occupational safety and to inform employees about the dangers of improper handling of equipment and chemicals. In addition, employees should also be informed about the correct handling of safety equipment in training courses.
At the same time, it is an important task to monitor and check compliance with the defined occupational health and safety measures. In summary, it can be said that the area of responsibility for occupational health and safety in construction is very diverse. However, to ensure that all construction workers can always work safely, it is essential that these tasks are taken seriously and implemented consistently.
What is the legal basis for occupational health and safety in construction?
Safety on construction sites is very important and there are a number of regulations that must be complied with to ensure that everything runs smoothly. These include the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Workplace Ordinance, the Industrial Safety Ordinance and the Construction Site Ordinance (BaustellV).
The Occupational Health and Safety Act regulates the basic occupational health and safety obligations of employers, the obligations and rights of employees and the monitoring of occupational health and safety.
The Workplace Ordinance stipulates what employers must observe when setting up and operating workplaces with regard to the safety and health of employees.
The Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health contains information on risk assessment and protective measures, rules for systems subject to mandatory monitoring as well as administrative offenses and criminal offenses.
The Construction Site Ordinance is intended to improve safety and health protection on construction sites. This document contains valuable information on the coordination, commissioning and obligations of employers and other persons.
The best practical tips for more safety on the construction site
1. occupational safety begins with careful planning of the construction site. Before the actual work begins, you should consult with the site manager and the safety officer to identify potential sources of danger and take the appropriate safety precautions.
2. Ensure adequate lighting and clearly visible path ways. Tripping hazards can occur on uneven or sloping ground due to construction site conditions - therefore pay particular attention to adequate lighting and clearly visible pathways.
3. Make sure that employees do not leave tools and other items lying around. Advise them to store all tools and other items that they no longer need in a tidy place to avoid the risk of tripping and falling.
4. Instructyour employees to always wear the recommended protective equipment such as helmets, safety goggles, hearing protection and respiratory protection when working on the construction site. This will protect them from injuries caused by falling objects or flying dust particles.
5. Make sure that employees take regular breaks. Especially with strenuous or monotonous work, signs of overload can quickly occur. Regular breaks can conserve energy reserves - your employees can work safely for longer.
6. Explain the safety precautions to your employees. There are many different safety precautions on construction sites that employees should observe. These include, for example, barriers, warning signs and rules of conduct. Always make sure that these rules are followed so that you do not risk any accidents.
7. Ensure that first aid can be provided quickly in an emergency. If employees work alone, a digital emergency system, such as CALIMA, can be used as a technical protective measure. An app turns your employees' smartphones into an emergency signal device that automatically recognizes emergencies and informs selected emergency contacts.
Conclusion: occupational health and safety is not a luxury, but a necessity
Occupational health and safety is not a luxury, but a necessity. This applies to both employees and employers. Occupational health and safety measures are necessary to ensure the health and safety of employees. In construction, employees are exposed to an increased risk potential and must be involved in occupational health and safety and know all the necessary protective measures. The causes of accidents are often a lack of safety and a lack of knowledge about the dangers on construction sites. However, occupational safety measures can only be effective if they are observed and implemented by all those involved - employees and employers. By adhering to the previously defined protective measures, it is also possible to work safely and therefore more effectively on construction sites.
