As a contractor, safety is one of your main priorities. When you go on–site, you want to know everything that has been done to minimize the risks you face, but you can take some simple extra steps to help you feel that little bit safer.
Here are five ways you can ensure you‘re as safe as possible on the job.
-
Familiarize Yourself with Safety Protocol
While there are, of course, industry standards, one of the challenges with contracting is that each site will have its own safety protocols.When you first enter the site, you should be given a run–through of the safety guidelines, helping you to stay safe on the job. Make sure that you play an active part in this process and ask questions if you have them.
It‘s your safety that‘s on the line, so make sure you’re comfortable with all the procedures before you start work.
-
Make Sure You Have the Right Insurance
For many jobs, it will be a requirement to show proof of insurance before you start working. Even if it isn‘t, though, it‘s vitally important to make sure you‘re protected if anything were to go wrong.It‘s tempting to go for the lowest quotation when it comes to these things, but when it‘s to do with your health and safety, you should make sure you‘re getting the right level of cover. Contractors insurance is there to give you peace of mind that you‘re well protected if anything were to go wrong, and it‘s an important part of the job.
-
Communicate Clearly
One of the easiest ways to help safeguard yourself is by communicating clearly at all times. There are risks involved with contracting that are just a part of the job, but if you‘re working well as part of a team and communicating well with your colleagues and other stakeholders, then you‘re going to minimize those risks.If you notice anything that requires attention, then let everyone know and help keep everyone safe on site.
-
Regularly Check Your Equipment
It‘s vitally important that your equipment is kept in good condition, and that you‘re using the right tools for the job.Accidents often happen when people try to make do with the wrong tools, and this is something you should try to avoid. Make sure that you‘ve got the right tools for the job, and that they‘re in good condition, ready to use.
When you‘ve got the right equipment, you‘ll be able to do a much better job while minimizing risk.
-
Don‘t Be Afraid to Speak Up
If you see something that‘s not right, then don‘t be afraid to speak up. You should feel safe in your working environment, so if you see something, then let the right people know.It‘s not just your safety that‘s at risk, but everyone else working on the site as well, so make sure you‘re confident and speak up when safety issues need to be raised.
