Given the increasing number of people who opt to build their own houses, working as a home contractor can be a profitable business as long as you know the ins and outs of the construction industry. However, industry experience and the right know-how in the building process may not be sufficient to be successful in this undertaking. Since constructing a home is considered one of the most dangerous jobs, home contractors should educate themselves on some safety considerations that are essential to a safe site.
So, if you’re a home contractor by yourself, below are the five safety tips to consider from the get-go:
- Wear Protective Gear
If you’re a hands-on home contractor for all your construction projects, then it’s important to wear protective gear for safety purposes. With several potential hazards at the construction site, you should equip yourself with the following equipment throughout the building process:
- Work pants and shirts – Make sure to wear flexible work shirts and pants so you can safeguard your legs, arms, and torso fully from superficial injuries, burns, cuts, scrapes, and other types of injuries. Also, be sure these clothes fit closely but not that loose to allow maximum mobility.
- Eye or face protection – To keep your eyes safe from flying debris or harmful dust, you should wear safety glasses or face shields for protection. If you’re doing the cutting, chipping, or welding by yourself, don’t forget to use welding shields, dust goggles, and chemical splash goggles.
- Foot protection – Typically, work boots should be used to safeguard your feet against falling equipment or materials. If possible, choose the one with nonslip soles and puncture-resistance so that you can avoid slips and other accidents. These foot protections are usually known as steel cap boots. Hence, if you want to find the perfect one for your needs, there are different types of workboots from reliable sellers to choose from online.
- Hard hats and hand protection – For your head’s safety, you should wear a hard hat to avoid injuries related to falling objects and striking the head against something hard. Also, to avoid burns and cuts, always use heavy-leather gloves for protection.
- Be Aware of the Potential Construction Site Hazards
As a home contractor, it’s your responsibility to keep your construction project safe and secure for you and everyone working there. This means that before the building process begins, you should inspect the construction site and evaluate the areas which may present some safety issues over time. Once you identify the safety hazards, don’t forget to document all of them and place some safeguards to ensure your safety and that of the other workers.
- Keep the Construction Site Clean
Another safety tip to follow is to ensure the cleanliness of the construction site. In most cases, accidents and injuries happen when there is plenty of garbage on the construction site. For instance, there may be a specific area in the site that’s covered by a lot of garbage, thereby increasing your chances of getting injured.
For this reason, it’s best to always keep the site clean. While there are many innovative building materials on the side, you may opt to store them in a secure place away from the rubbish. Once you’re done with the segregation, you can hire some cleaning professionals who can take care of the garbage for you on a daily basis. That way, you can maintain a clean construction site that is free from dangerous garbage and wastes.
- Maintain Your Equipment Regularly
As a home contractor, you should also ensure all the pieces of equipment you use in your project are maintained and in good working condition. Generally, one of the common causes of injuries in a construction site is malfunctioned equipment. When they’re not in good working condition, they can increase your risk of an accident and injury.
Thus, if you want to keep yourself and the other workers safe while the work is going on, spend some time for regular equipment maintenance. By doing so, you can rest knowing your equipment will not be a cause of safety trouble to you and your workers.
- Attend Workplace Safety Training
While you’re an expert in the construction industry, especially in terms of using particular equipment, you also need to learn about some basic protocols that’ll keep you safe while you’re at the site. As such, it’s a good idea if you attend workplace safety training to keep you updated with the things you need to ensure everyone’s safety at the worksite.
Generally, workplace safety training is key to keeping your construction safe. With it in place, you’ll learn the best practices in operating construction equipment and doing the building process safely.
The Bottom Line
Indeed, knowing what’s happening on your home building site and putting some safeguards can help ensure your safety and that of everyone else at all times. More importantly, follow the tips mentioned above, and you’ll be on your way toward running a successful construction business. Remember, a home construction project can be a dangerous undertaking, which is why you should implement some safety measures to avoid troubles in the long run.
Recent Comments