How important are equipment and workforce safety for skilled tradesmen? We point out in a previous post that most workplace accidents are easily preventable. These workplace accidents were in the top ten most reported in 2021 by the National Safety Council:
- Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501): 5,295 violations
- Respiratory Protection (1910.134): 2,527
- Ladders (1926.1053): 2,026
- Scaffolding (1926.451): 1,948
- Hazard Communication (1910.1200): 1,947
- Lockout/Tagout (1910.147): 1,698
Workplace and job safety professionals know that falls and equipment safety issues are often preventable. The harm to individual skilled tradespeople and their families caused by accidents can be tragic and long-lasting.
So how can tradespeople stay safe on the job?
This post will highlight three tried and true ways for members of the skilled trades workforce to stay safe on the job.
Be Mentally Aware and Physically Capable of Every Task
Tradesmen need to be self-aware. It’s easy to see from the list of injuries that falls are commonplace. Tradesmen and women can easily forget that they’re 20 feet in the air on a ladder or scaffold as they try to work efficiently and quickly.
You must always keep your safety top of mind by being acutely conscious of where you are, especially regarding roofs, ladders, and scaffolds.
Also, take breaks and stay hydrated. Dehydration and exhaustion frequently cause preventable workplace accidents due to depleted strength and awareness.
Never Try to Do The Job Of Two Tradesmen
Always ask for help with heavy lifting. Skilled craftsmen are worth every penny they make on the job. You can’t get paid and take care of your family if you’re on the sidelines with an injury, so always ask for assistance when a job requires two people. This includes lugging heavy materials up ladders and on scaffolding, carrying heavy equipment, etc.
Back injuries are common in the construction workforce and also very preventable.
Make Sure Equipment Is Properly Secured for Trained Craftsmen Only
Hazard notifications and equipment management are also essential to workforce safety. Skilled tradespeople are experts in their field. That includes expertise with expensive, often potentially dangerous pieces of equipment.
Senior tradespeople need to keep their equipment safe from use by untrained team members. They also must take the lead with hazard notifications and equipment decommissioning and lockout/tagout notifications when necessary.
The bottom line is to stay safe out there at all costs!
Tradesmen also need to stay on top of the need for excellent, competitive compensation and non-direct compensation benefits like healthcare. If you get injured on the job, we want to ensure you have adequate benefits to get you healthy and back on the job ASAP.
Contact Skilled Trades Partners Today
Are you looking for a great skilled trades job or a new project? Maybe you’re just starting in the trades. No matter where you’re at in your career, we can help. Skilled Trades Partners is not your typical skilled trades construction recruitment agency. We’re built on blue-collar respect! You are worth full benefits like vacation, sick days, holiday pay, medical/dental insurance, and a ton of much-deserved perks. We PARTNER with you at STP. Contact us today at one of our four New England office locations.