Tag: contractor safety tips

Accidents Happen: Contractor Incidents and Safety Tips

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Accidents happen. This is why it’s important for a contractor or a contracting company to carry worker’s compensation, because you never know when someone with trip or slip!

In 2016, 203,500 injuries and illnesses were reported in the construction industry. Around 22,880 of these were sprains, strains, and tears; 13,020 claims were pain related; 11,880 were fractures and 11,810 were cuts, lacerations and punctures.

The average time a worker was out was 10 days. Of the 82,760 accident injuries reported, only 14 percent required just 1 day out. However, 26,010 injuries caused people to be way from work an average of 31 days; this accounts for around 1/3 of the accidents. That’s a lot of people out of work for a long time!

Why so many injuries? Well construction sites are full of hazards. Even when the right safety measure have been taken, accidents can still occur. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2016 Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, here’s some examples of what hurt people.

  • 9,020 incidents occurred from building material injuries from pipes, bricks, wood, metal and stone
  • 1,700 incidents happened from nails and screws
  • 10,500 incidents happened from the way a worker moved. A worker tweaked/hurt something from climbing, walking, reaching, twisting, or bending
  • 8,490 incidents happened from hand tools
  • 7,140 cases happened from ladders.
  • 24,700 incidents occurred from falls, trips, or slips
  • 29,160 incidents happened from contact with objects
  • 2,960 incidents happened from contact with harmful substances or environments

 

Although not all accidents can be avoided, a lot can be prevented with the right safety protocols in place. There are so many safety tips on a construction site, but we just wanted to share a few as a reminder:

  • Be mindful of your surroundings
  • Always wear protect equipment: hardhats, safety glasses, vests, gloves, steel-toed boots, jackets
  • Stretch before working
  • Avoid sudden movements
  • Clean up spills immediately
  • Inspect all tools and machines before use to make sure they are working properly.
  • Use fall protection devices
  • Keep walking surfaces clear
  • Take breaks

It’s not only important to be safe at work, it’s also important to practice contracting work legally. If you’re looking to get your Florida contractor’s license, we can help you get through the  contractor license process fast. We are a Florida contractor licensing company. To get started on the process, click here or call us at 239-777-1028.

 

How to keep Your Construction Site Safe

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Did you know that construction equipment theft is a really big problem? Unfortunately, it is. Contractors truly have to concern themselves with this issue. Construction zones and project areas are known to be high-risk targets for theft. In fact, according to the National Equipment Register (NER), only about 25% max of all stolen items are ever found. The average loss of stolen equipment is $46,273. However, the national amount that is stolen each year is between $300 million and #1 billion. That’s a lot!

Is it inevitable that your construction work zone will get robbed? Not necessarily. There’s plenty you can do to protect yourself and equipment as best as possible. However, nothing is fail proof, and you cannot guarantee your equipment’s safety, but you can raise your chances of remaining theft-free.

As a Florida contractor licensing company, we understand the importance of this equipment and it can truly make/break a business if thousands of dollars worth of things go missing. We wanted to share with you a few ideas and tips of things you can do and incorporate in your construction site to protect your equipment.

  • Make sure your equipment is always secured and locked before leaving the site for the day.
  • If you have smaller tools and equipment, store them in a locker/shed/bring them back to an office, so they won’t be out in the open and easy to grab.
  • Surround the work site with a chain-link fence/barb wire to keep out unwanted intruders.
  • Opt for a video surveillance/alarm system if you’re working a big job with expensive equipment.
  • Put up signs telling people that the area is under video surveillance.
  • Manage, monitor, and be restrictive about who has access to keys, codes, and combinations to access work sites.
  • Install security lighting. It’s harder for intruders to get away with theft if they can be easily seen.
  • Always keep an up-to-date log of inventory, so you will know exactly when something is missing.
  • Look for technologies and apps that help improve your security and safety. For example, keyless ignitions and personal ID numbers to gain access to something.

You want to deter thieves from entering your work site. You want to make it look hard for them to steal anything, so that they won’t even bother. Stolen equipment is a headache. You will lose money and it could slow down your project completely. Think about incorporating some of the key tips above to help protect your construction assets.

Are you interested in a career in contracting? Let us help you get your Florida contractor’s license. We are a Florida contractor licensing company who has helped thousands of people get licensed. We do all the work for you. You’ll be licensed in no time! Click our Florida contractor’s license contact page or call us at 239-777-1028 to get started with us today.

 

The importance of safety glasses

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What do flying debris, airborne dust, and shattering glass have in common?

 

They can all cause eye injuries.

 

It’s no surprise that the construction industry ranks second among occupations with the highest rate of eye injuries, given the number of potential hazards that workers face each day.

 

According the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, three out of every five eye injuries in the workplace happen to individuals who are not wearing eye protection. More than 20,000 eye injuries occur at work each year, and reportedly cost an estimated $300 million in lost productivity, medical bills, and workers’ compensation claims.

 

The federal Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) maintains safety standards for eye and face protection; in most cases, personal protective eyewear is mandatory at job sites. Safety glasses with side shields are required for environments in which concrete, metal, and wood particles are in the air.

 

Here are a few tips for picking the right pair of safety glasses and staying safe at work:

 

–Simply put, wearing safety glasses is your best defense against injury. Be sure your eyewear is OSHA-compliant and carries the approval of the American National Standards Institute. Sealed glasses provide the best protection from airborne debris.

 

–Workers exposed to daylong sunlight should wear safety glasses that offer protection from the sun’s ultra-violet rays. Look for glasses marked “UV400,” which provide 100-percent protection. Glasses with variable lenses stay clear indoors, and transition to a dark tint outdoors. Lenses with an anti-fog coating will prevent temperature and humidity changes from obscuring your view.

 

–Take steps to create a safer work environment and make an eye safety checklist. Identify primary hazards at each job site, secure objects that could fall, make sure that safety systems on power tools are functional, and designate specific areas for activities that create dust and debris. Take time at the end of each day to clean up and re-evaluate the workspace for potential issues.

 

–Make sure you have a first-aid kit on hand that contains an ample amount eye wash, which can be used to flush out any specks of debris.  However, a person who has suffered an eye cut or puncture should not flush the eye, and instead seek immediate medical attention.

 

Having the right licenses for the job are just as important as workplace safety. A Florida contractor licensing company can help individuals and companies navigate the state’s licensing requirements, with approvals as quick as 10 days. For more information on Florida contractor requirements or to get an application started, visit our Florida contractor licensing page or call 239-777-1028.