If you work on a construction site or in any industry that involves the use of heavy machinery, then you will find there are plenty of safety notices, guards and warnings in place to make sure you operate all machinery safely so as to reduce the risk of a personal injury.

There is alot of activity on a construction site from deliveries, machinery, people working at different heights, labourers carrying items to work with, concrete mixers working and generally noise from drills. A site is often such a busy place, but it is still essential to have processes in place to keep work areas tidy and clear from deliveries and waste.

Waste is often created at a construction site and this can be anything from pallets left over to off-cuts of wood or bricks that have been broken or damaged. There is also waste created from sheets of plastic that often protect a delivery aswell as the binding that holds a palletised delivery in place. These items need to be cleared up and disposed off safely and as quick as possible. Plastic can easily move in the wind and cause problems and the bindings can also become a trip hazard if left on a floor.

Off-cuts or broken bits of building materials can be sharp and if left lying on the floor this might also result in someone tripping over the item and the potential issues of compensation claims as a injury on a construction site can be serious.

The clearer the space, the easier it would be to move around on the site, especially on city centre sites like Coventry or Birmingham. If walkways are obstructed this can result in a accident, which might lead to a personal injury claim Nottingham.

When there is alot of development and construction within an area there will be a higher risk of accidents. As a building goes up, the construction needs and development changes and workers (and visitors) need to be aware of this. It is also important to note that if the workers spot a potential risk they should either try and fix this straight away or at least notify an appropriate worker if it cannot be resolved there and then.

One potential risk can be something so simple as using power tools that require an electrical wire. It can be easy to start moving around and drilling without realising the cord has become tangled, or worse still hidden and therefore a potential trip hazard. This is why cordless equipment is used and preferred as there is a lower risk of a trip which might result in an accident claim.

Construction sites based in a city centre, like Nottingham, have their own risks and these need to be documented and resolved. The sites need to be secure to protect unauthorised personnel entering. The perimeter needs to be wide enough to prevent anything falling from a height and landing on a member of the public as this may result in a personal injury claim Nottingham

As soon as a construction project is confirmed there is alot of organisation to do. This involves the planning and notifications, which is handled in the admin section but there is also the preparation and welfare of the construction site staff so we take a look at the main points to consider:

1. How to work safely with electricity and power supplies
2. Fire risks and how to identify, control and reduce the risk of fire
3. Handling plant vehicles - from the construction workers and public perspective
4. Demolition of buildings or previous structures - how will this affect those outside of the construction site
5. Operating cranes as these are often seen on construction sites
6. Height working which involves working at different heights and the tools used to gain the height from scaffold to ladders

The above points are essential and need to be taken into consideration. If you have worked on a construction site and suffered an injury that was not your fault you may be entitled to compensation, so take a look and review your personal injury claim.

This blog is about everything to do with construction sites and health and safety on the sites. Imagine that any workplace can be a place full of hazards from slipping and tripping to the more serious accident claim as a result of serious injury. A construction site is no different and there are even more hazards to be aware of, from ground level upwards.

As the posts progress, we will be looking into the different types of hazards on a building/construction site to the organisation and observation that goes into managing these hazards. Get your hard hat and grab a brew as we start with the overall basics of construction site safety.