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What are the best Safety Tools for Construction Sites?

A crane working on a building under construction, illustrating the process of urban development and construction engineering
Construction sites are one of the busiest and most hazardous work environments in Australia and injuries in construction areas are prone to happen unexpectedly. Since 2015, cuts and open wounds, sprains and strains, and chronic joint or muscle conditions are the primary work-related injuries experienced by workers in the construction industry. These injuries are mainly caused by hitting or being hit by an object, lifting, pushing or pulling objects, and falling from heights.

A recent Australian Construction Report showed that an average of 33 workers are seriously injured each day. The majority of workers are involved in cases of falls from height, vehicle collision, and electrocution. In this dangerous workplace, it’s up to management and coworkers to ensure the health and safety of everyone on site. In line with that, everyone must be aware of the various safety tools and tips to be safe and stay productive at work.

Construction safety tools have a significant role in ensuring worker’s safety at work. That is why more companies are working to develop and improve construction safety for better production.

Best Safety Tools For Construction Sites

Take a close look at the best safety tools in construction sites. These are the newest construction safety innovations that will be launched soon!

1. Construction safety halo

Safety halo is the number 1 safety tool for work operations done at night. In construction sites, less visibility of workers posed more hazards to them.

The Illumagear halo light is usually placed from a laborer’s head or on top of their hat. This tool is a totally game-changing lighting system that is incomparable, reliable, and more convenient than anything else in the market.

Illumagear Halo Light lets the worker be spotted at a distance of over a quarter of a mile and provides 360 degrees of illumination all night long. The powerful light is helpful for the driver to spot the workers at a sufficient distance with enough time to slow down.

With its powerful lighting, it is surprisingly light enough not to weigh down the hardhat. The best thing about it is that illumagear fits many popular hardhats. Simply attach it to a hardhat, and everyone will see you coming.

2. Construction safety in reverse

Backing up heavy equipment is critical in construction sites. In fact, fatal accidents in construction sites are caused by being struck by a vehicle. A piece of heavy equipment backing up is dangerous because many blind spots forced drivers to be unaware of their surroundings.

The Track vision tools are specialised cameras for heavy equipment. Construction equipment needs a track vision system so that drivers can have a 115 point of view. It features the recording of video that is helpful in times of an accident. You do not need to rely on eyewitness accounts. 

3. Construction safety drone

Trade Skills Australia - Construction safety drone

Drones are not just used in some typical taping for movies or racing as a teens game. Drones are now used in a new comprehensive perspective for a construction site. You can check every nook of the construction site, even if you are miles away. You can check the braces on scaffolding so that you don’t need to send a man hanging to do so. It can improve situational awareness in the team because it gives so much information.

4. Construction safety phone

Trade Skills Australia - Construction safety phone

The CAT S60 Smartphone is not just matched from a different brand of phones we used. It is a recommended tool to see heat in the infrared spectrum, which can indicate a catastrophe.  

The construction safety phone of CAT 360 is said to be more innovative because it has an integrated FLIR thermal camera that gives the expected smartphone amenities. This smartphone features water resistance from five meters and is very useful on a construction job site.

5. Construction safety app

Trade Skills Australia -  Construction safety app

Equipchat is an AI tool that helps to manage the equipment status. This software assists in easily managing all maintenance schedules, hours of work, equipment, and so much more. There is also a recommended mobile app accessible to use in the office, trailer, or field.

Equipchat is designed to provide seamless reporting and data management in the construction industry. It features notification and alerts when problems arise, faster report modification, and an efficient scoreboard system.

Safety tools are vital, but knowledge in staying safe in a hazardous construction site is formidable.  

Construction safety tips

Here are the various ways you can ensure a safe construction site. 

1. Always wear correct protective gear

Wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) can lessen minor and major injury on the job site. PPE protects the workers from falling objects, inhaling dust, protecting the eyes, and so on. These will help workers to ensure safety and do their work productively. This should also include ear protection, helmet, knee pads, and hi-vis jackets, as well as safety goggles for facial protection.

2. Health and safety training

Training for health and safety must be done and prioritised before going on a respective job site. Construction workers must attend this program to increase awareness and become fully competent to avoid risks. The training also specialises in using first aid and how to conduct basic life-saving techniques if necessary so that everyone will be ready in case of an emergency. 

3. Correctly construct and maintain scaffolding

Constructing scaffolding is necessary and should not be done with shortcuts. It should be built on stable or flat ground with solid footing to prevent the risk of collapsing. Be sure to maintain and repair the damages of structure from time to time and ensure that all workers have passed through on training to build accurate and safe scaffolding. 

4. Display clear signs

Signs are beneficial and essential on a construction site. Thus, the use of highlighting every hazard with the help of posters is extremely efficient. This typically warns everyone to keep a distance from any under-construction area to prevent injuries. Signs are the most simple and effective measures of reducing accidents.

5. Inspect tools and equipment regularly

Prevention is better than the cure. Regular inspection of tools will prevent them malfunctioning, protecting the workers.. Workers rely on the use of tools to do their job effectively. If this equipment is unsafe or broken, it will likely cause accidents. It is both the responsibility of the workers and employer to maintain the tools and equipment with no defects to prevent all serious injuries.

6. Stimulate proper communication

Communication enables an employee to keep safe while at work. This strategy provides easy access to inform and warn everyone what is actually happening in their respective area.  Communicating to identify potential risks will reduce the possibility of arising massive injuries or worse, fatalities. Everyone must have a clear connection with one another to address the problem smoothly.

Is it time to do a risk assessment?

Every business or construction site needs to assess and undertake a risk assessment. . Managing risks at work is a regular procedure such as changing work practices, recommencing operations following a shutdown, responding to the workplace of incidence, and responding to any concerns raised by workers and other personnel. 

Risk assessment should be viewed periodically in managing environment changes over time with response to health and safety protocols in the workplace. All workers should participate and provide feedback during a risk assessment.  After all, maintaining a safe construction site is everyone’s duty.