When you think of construction safety, you might think of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as hard hats, goggles, and boots. However, there’s a lot more involved in keeping yourself safe on a construction site than what you wear. This week is construction safety week, and to celebrate we’re going over four construction safety tips to remember while on a job site in order to minimize hazards.

Safety Management

Conduct regular inspections of the job site and submit incident reports in a timely manner. This means making sure all tools and equipment are in excellent condition, and reporting all issues that arise with urgency. Having regular safety meetings and a safety manager dedicated to seeing these processes through can be helpful, too.

Be Prepared

The most important yet basic part of being prepared on the job site is fully understanding the tasks you’re there to complete. This means that supervisors must clearly communicate instructions and ensure the proper equipment is available to get the job done. Staying hydrated and preparing emergency response plans is also a good way to stay ready for anything.

Mind the Work Area

Pay attention to your work area. Keep it tidy, organized, and separated. Don’t leave materials lying around and unplug and put tools away completely when they’re not being used. Mark specific work zones and hazardous areas using cones, barrels, barriers and fences. An orderly work site is less likely to breed chaos.

Education + PPE

It is crucial to always wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). However, PPE should not be the only or even the first method of hazard prevention used on a job site. Your first line of defense from a crisis is education; ensure everyone on the job site understands construction hazards and safety. Always pay attention to the hierarchy of controls, and make sure everyone is aware of the four most common construction hazards, or the “Focus Four.”