Building an Home Extension

Civil construction involves the construction of infrastructures such as roads, tunnels, railway lines and bridges. Read this article for some civil construction safety tips.

Initial Surveys

Conduct an initial survey to understand site conditions that might affect the construction process. For instance, you may require local council documents to ensure the site does not have toxic minerals or dangerous materials such as asbestos. Also, you want to know whether the site has an effective stormwater drainage system. You may need to reinforce structures if the area is prone to flooding, storms or earthquakes. Additionally, hire a geotechnical engineer to assess the soil quality. It may be challenging to build on clay and silt soils.

The initial survey also includes an environmental assessment. You will have to control noise levels if the site is close to game parks. Additionally, you may have to use environmentally friendly building materials to reduce the environmental impact of the project. 

Inspect Earthmoving Equipment

Civil construction projects often involve a lot of excavation and ground levelling works. As a rule, all earthmovers at the site should be in excellent condition. Below are some safety tips to observe when using earthmovers.

1. Earthmover operators must be experienced. And they should beware of their blind spots.
2. Each machine should be used for its intended purpose. For example, do not use a backhoe loader to lift items.
3. Regular inspections should be conducted to identify earthmover defects such as worn-out tires, leaking hydraulics, worn-out brake pads and transmission issues.
4. Equipment should not be used during heavy rains and storms.
5. Each machine should have comprehensive insurance coverage.

Site Safety

Meet with your employees and inform them of the safety measures they should observe at the site. For example, they should all have protective gear such as helmets, reflective jackets and boots. They should have fall prevention systems when working at heights. All electric equipment should be shut off when not in use. Your employees should formulate a communication strategy to help them communicate with earthmover operators. Flags and walkie-talkies are highly effective. 

Your site should have an emergency plan. For example, some of your employees could provide first aid to alleviate suffering in case of an accident. Besides, you should have emergency contacts to local police and ambulance services. Sites with fire risks should have fire response equipment. The site should also have an assembly point from where you can take a headcount in case of an accident.

Safety is a priority in any civil construction site. Conduct an initial survey to assess the site conditions, inspect earthmoving equipment and observe the recommended site safety tips.