Construction Safety Orientation & Recommendations

According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, construction is a dangerous industry due to the nature of the work. Construction workers are exposed to many hazards, so safety orientations are recommended for ensuring new hires know how to stay safe on the job.

Types

Many types of construction jobs exist, including demolitions, erections, repairs, excavations and highway roadwork. Each type of construction work yields its own risks and hazards, so orientations should identify which hazards pertain to the work being performed. For instance, if workers will be excavating, provide them with information about excavation hazards.

Function

Safety orientations provide critical information to construction workers about how to use equipment safely, how to use personal protective gear, how to identify hazardous atmospheres and how to secure fall protection. General industry standards must also be discussed, such as making sure employees do not work directly below cranes and derricks.

Test Questions and Practice

At the end of the orientation, provide workers with test questions so that they can see how much information they retained. After the quiz is administered, discuss the answers as a group so that employees know how they scored.

References

• OSHA: Construction Industry