Safety on construction sites is an extremely important task for everyone involved in the implementation of construction projects. Construction sites can involve hazardous work, accidents on the site are often serious, and the health and safety of numerous employees are at risk. Therefore, in this article, uvex will identify important safety factors on construction sites.
What Regulations Apply to Safety on Construction Sites?
To implement measures ensuring occupational safety on construction sites, German legislation has issued the Construction Site Ordinance (BaustellV). It specifically defines the duties and responsibilities of the employer, the construction manager, and the construction coordinator. The goal is to implement occupational safety measures at every stage of construction. An important role is played by the safety plan, which is developed by the appointed safety coordinator (SiGeKo).
Other important safety rules are contained in the Occupational Health and Safety Rules for Construction Sites (RAB), developed by the Committee for Occupational Safety in Construction (ASGB). These safety rules on construction sites are based on § 4 of the Occupational Safety Act (ArbSchG) and must be taken into account by the contractor and the safety coordinator (SiGeKo).
Who Monitors Compliance with Safety Regulations on Construction Sites?
Compliance with occupational safety regulations on construction sites is checked by in-house safety specialists as well as by bodies appointed by Germany’s federal states: trade supervisory boards, occupational safety authorities, and regional authorities. As part of mandatory accident insurance in the construction industry and related services in Germany (Berufsgenossenschaft Bau), documented information about construction processes is monitored, such as services provided by maintenance contractor groups, and hourly work records are kept. Inspections are usually announced in advance.
As industrial accidents and occupational diseases must be reported to the Construction Industry Employers’ Liability Insurance Association, they maintain statistics: according to the Association, in 2021, the number of industrial accidents in the construction industry decreased by 0.4% compared to 2020 (from 103,970 to 103,525). The number of fatal accidents in 2021 also decreased (from 97 to 85 workers). On the other hand, the number of non-fatal accidents increased in 2021 compared to 2020 (from 7,723 to 8,808).
What Factors Play a Role in Ensuring Safety on Construction Sites?
A combination of many factors plays a role in ensuring safety on construction sites. Potential hazards or injury risks can result from work errors, unprotected hazardous areas, faulty or unmaintained equipment, and a lack of knowledge or awareness.
Protective Clothing: Personal Protective Equipment on the Construction Site
In its statistics published in 2022, the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety states that the most frequently recorded occupational diseases in 2020 were skin diseases and noise-induced hearing loss, along with an increase in infectious diseases due to the pandemic. According to BG Bau statistics, lumbar spine diseases were in third place in 2021. Unfortunately, the number of reported cases of suspected occupational diseases increased in 2021 (from 15,821 to 16,492). The good news is that effective personal protective equipment (PPE) can prevent a wide range of occupational diseases and accidents. PPE includes reliable protective clothing as well as protection for body parts and functions. You can explore uvex products in the field of occupational safety on the “Construction” page. uvex is an expert in personal protective equipment and will comprehensively equip you:
- Eye protection: safety glasses (with prescription), visors
- Respirators: FFP1-FFP3 masks
- Hearing protection: earplugs, ear muffs, custom hearing protection (otoplastics)
- Head protection: construction site safety helmets
- Protective gloves: depending on the model, gloves protect against mechanical injuries, chemicals, and cuts
- Safety footwear: safety shoes classes 1-3 for various applications
- Workwear for construction sites: high-visibility clothing for easy recognition on construction sites, as well as durable workwear and disposable protective suits for chemical work
A special feature of uvex protective equipment is its individuality: uvex can manufacture, for example, protective footwear with orthopedic insoles, prescription safety glasses, computer glasses, and custom-made hearing protection with ear canal impressions. Explore the different categories of uvex PPE!
uvex has also developed protective equipment specifically for the construction sector to optimally protect your employees from construction site hazards. Whether you work in interior construction, building construction, or civil engineering, go to the category pages, select your profession, and find quality personal protective equipment in the areas listed above. Some uvex PPE complies with the provisions set by mandatory accident insurance for the construction industry and related services in Germany (BG Bau) and may be subsidized by them. Check out our uvex product catalog for protective clothing to ensure safety on construction sites! If you have any questions or would like a consultation, please contact our uvex construction experts using the contact form.
Conducting Work on Construction Sites
Since many employees and a large number of tools and materials can be used on a construction site, clear organization and good coordination of work are crucial factors. The safety and health coordinator discusses the processes and work methods on the construction site with the contractor. They also ensure agreements between the contractor and workers. Their occupational safety and health plan also serves as the basis for risk assessments on the construction site. These tasks play an important role in ensuring safe work on construction sites.
In addition to good coordination of work processes on the construction site, clear agreements between workers and detailed instructions on task execution also significantly contribute to construction site safety. Important safety measures and rules of conduct on the construction site should also be clearly communicated to personnel to avoid hazards and accidents caused by a lack of awareness or knowledge.
Marking and Signage on Construction Sites
Professional marking and securing of construction sites are also important safety factors. Ensure that your construction site is adequately fenced and marked with construction barriers and warning signs for passersby (construction site security). This applies to areas on the construction site where there is a risk of falling, such as pits, scaffold edges, and high work areas, as well as potentially dangerous machinery. In these cases, primary and secondary fall protection measures such as scaffolding, side guardrails, fall barriers, and fall arrest systems should be used.
Signs warning of accidents are of great importance to workers on the construction site as they warn of hazardous areas and provide instructions on how to act. The Committee on Workplaces has also established standards and minimum brightness levels for lighting on construction sites.
Emergency Response Plan on Construction Sites
Well-thought-out emergency response plans, known to everyone, also play an important role in ensuring safety on construction sites. Examples include first aid measures for workers, actions to identify and extinguish fires, as well as ensuring safe traffic and evacuation routes.
How Are Hazards on Construction Sites Determined?
To avoid hazards on construction sites, they must first be identified. Therefore, the Occupational Safety Act requires an inspection of work and working conditions on construction sites for potential hazards. The task is to timely identify deficiencies and non-compliant equipment as well as other safety-related risks and prevent emerging dangers. Risk assessment on construction sites is conducted by an occupational safety specialist. The risk assessment on the construction site is based on the occupational safety and health plan, which is developed by the coordinator. The more detailed and accurate the risk assessment, the lower the potential risk from the start.
Who Is Responsible for Safety on Construction Sites?
Considering construction site safety regulations and accident prevention rules on construction sites, as well as other safety measures, an important question arises: who is responsible for safety on construction sites? According to the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety in Germany, responsibility for occupational safety on construction sites lies with the employer, occupational safety specialists, the contractor, the site manager, the architect, and the aforementioned coordinator.
The occupational safety and health specialist conducts risk assessments, ensures workplace safety, organizes work processes in accordance with safety regulations, and provides safe work equipment as well as necessary protective measures. The ultimate responsibility for the construction project lies with the contractor: they must apply the construction site rules and appoint a coordinator. The coordinator is then tasked with implementing occupational safety measures. The company manager decides on occupational safety measures in accordance with the Occupational Safety Act. According to the Occupational Safety Act, the employer is obliged to inform their employees about the safety measures in an accessible form. uvex supports construction companies in this matter by offering uvex occupational safety training at the Academy. The training covers personal protective equipment, measurement methods, and laser protection.
Construction Site Safety – Conclusion
As is clear from this article, construction site safety depends on many different factors. The site manager and safety coordinator must have an overview of the entire construction site, ensure compliance with safety regulations, and coordinate work processes on the construction site. However, construction site safety also depends on the awareness of all employees about safety measures, their tasks, and work processes on the construction site. If you want to deepen your understanding of the topic “Occupational Safety on Construction Sites,” check out our blog article! We also published a blog article on “Sustainable Construction.”