As a small business construction owner, one of your most primary concerns is the safety of your employees. According to the United States Department of Labor, employers in the United States pay nearly $1 billion per week in direct workers’ compensation costs.

The cost of a workplace accident could be devastating for two reasons. First and foremost, the amount that you may have to pay in workers’ compensation could exceed the money that you’re earning. Your funds may be limited as the owner of a small construction company, and you simply just may not be able to pay workers’ compensation. Furthermore, workplace accidents could delay a project, preventing you from securing future work.

Fortunately, there are some things that you can do to improve construction worksite safety. Below, we’ve outlined six tips to help do so. By implementing these methods, you’ll create a much safer work environment for you and your team.

1) Avoid Falling Objects 

One of the most common injuries at a construction site is from falling objects. The best thing you can do to protect your employees is mandate that they wear hard hats at all times. You should also train your employees so that they wear their hard hats correctly. Hard hats that are loose or do not fit correctly will not protect a worker.

You should also discourage employees from discarding materials by throwing them from above. When a worker is elevated, it’s often challenging to see what’s below them. If work is occurring above-ground, you should create a buffer zone in case materials were to fall accidentally.

2) Beware Of Underground Dangers

Workplace accidents don’t only occur from falling objects, but they can also occur underground as well. Before digging at a job site, make sure that you conduct proper research and surveying methods. This will prevent the likelihood of accidental:

• Burns

• Poisoning

• Electrocution

If you notice hazards, don’t try to work around them. Instead, take time to remove or reduce them.

3) Prevent Slips And Falls 

Another thing that construction site managers can focus on is preventing slips and falls. Managers should make sure that employees are also wearing proper harness systems when working above the ground. Managers should also look into setting up temporary nets and railings to also keep employees safe.

Even with extensive training, a slip or fall injury could happen at any time. It’s best that you have safeguards in place. You should also make sure that you clean up any spills that have occurred.

4) Communicate Expectations

When hiring new employees, you should take the time to communicate the culture and work environment in your company so that they know what to expect. You should also provide refresher courses to employees so that they have an understanding of what you expect. Communicating expectations to employees can minimize excuses and prevent workplace accidents.

5) Train Employees Properly

As critical as it is to communicate expectations, it’s also essential that you provide them with proper training. Otherwise, your discussion about expectations will fall on deaf ears. You should arm your employees with the tools necessary to carry out your expectations.

6) Use Time Clock Software 

Another way to improve job site safety is by using time clock software. Today’s time clock software allows you to send alerts to your employees’ phones. For instance, you could send daily or weekly safety updates to your employees by using time clock software. Providing your employees with refreshers on how to stay safe in the workplace could be useful.