Construction Hazard Identification: The Basics
Learn how to identify and assess potential construction hazards that can cause injuries or fatalities on construction sites.
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Learn how to identify and assess potential construction hazards that can cause injuries or fatalities on construction sites.
Construction hazard identification is the process of recognizing and evaluating potential hazards that can occur during construction activities. It involves identifying the types of hazards, assessing their risks, and implementing measures to mitigate or eliminate them.
Construction hazards typically involve three categories, while other types of hazards may also be known depending on the nature of the project. Here’s a quick guide to the most common hazards present in construction work:
Physical hazards are the most common type of hazard in construction. A good way to determine the physical hazards you might have on your site is by conducting pre-start checks and safety audits to evaluate all potential hazards before undertaking certain kinds of work.
Examples of Physical Hazards in Construction:
Machinery and equipment
Vibration
Chemical hazards typically include exposure to hazardous substances like solvents, paints, adhesives, and other common chemicals that are used in construction. These hazards can cause acute or chronic effects acquired through inhalation, ingestion, absorption, or injection (skin punctures).
Examples of Chemical Hazards in Construction:
Lead
Silica
Welding fumes
Solvents
These include hazards related to repetitive motions, heavy lifting, or other physical demands that can cause musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Ergonomic hazards are usually self-inflicted through working with unhealthy conditions such as wrong postures, but can also be inflicted by the usage of tools, equipment, and environment.
Examples of Ergonomic Hazards in Construction:
Poorly designed tools
Vibration exposure
Heavy lifting
Awkward postures
Inadequate training
After exploring the types of hazards present in construction processes, it’s vital to know how to identify them. Here are two ways to do this, as follows:
Conduct a thorough site inspection by walking through the entire construction site to identify any hazards that may be present or develop over time. Look for obvious signs such as uneven surfaces, sharp edges, exposed wires, or missing guards. There are many ways to conduct site inspections, but it’s important to use a comprehensive checklist to ensure you don’t miss anything.
Construction Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment Checklist | Mitti (by SafetyCulture)
Provide guidance on recognizing common hazards in the construction industry and evaluating their severity and likelihood. Create bite-sized training courses to enhance workers’ skills in identifying hazards, assessing risks, and determining appropriate control measures during the JSA/JHA process. Track training completion and engagement to pinpoint areas for improvement.
Mitti (by SafetyCulture) is a mobile-first operations platform adopted across industries such as manufacturing, mining, construction, retail, and hospitality. It’s designed to equip leaders and working teams with the knowledge and tools to do their best work—to the safest and highest standard. Efficiently manage and streamline health and safety processes across the organization, including incident management, safety audits and inspections, risk assessment, waste management, and more, using a comprehensive EHS software solution.
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