What are the objectives of workplace safety in the construction industry?
Workplace safety can be defined as a set of measures to be implemented in a wide variety of work environments that help prevent accidents and ensure the quality of life of your team. By investing in workplace safety, your company will comply with the regulations set by the Ministry of Labor, which increases worker safety. Professionals working in this area must verify that the rules are being followed in the company's routine, as well as being responsible for educating workers, showing them the best way to perform tasks to avoid accidents.
The main objective of occupational safety in civil construction is to identify, assess, and control risk situations present in workers' activities. This can be done through risk mapping, where the responsible team implements a series of standards, procedures, and equipment in the work environment to reduce the risks inherent in each activity. In addition, a study of statistical data on accidents and illnesses that have already occurred can be conducted, aiming to adopt the best preventive measures for each area. Therefore, it can be said that occupational safety has three aspects: reducing workplace accidents, promoting occupational health, and reducing fire risks.
Furthermore, it is important to conduct a study based on statistical data on accidents and illnesses that have already occurred, in order to adopt the best preventive measures for each sector. For this reason, workplace safety encompasses three fundamental aspects: the reduction of workplace accidents, the promotion of occupational health, and the reduction of fire risks. Prioritizing these elements will contribute to a safer and more productive construction environment for everyone involved.
Main risks in civil construction
- Lack of guidance, work orders, or appropriate training;
- Lack of warnings or audible/visual signals about the risks;
- Improvised and rushed practices;
- Use of obsolete or defective machinery and equipment;
- Use of worn-out or inadequate tools;
- Insufficient or non-existent lighting;
- Use of stairs, ramps and access points without adequate collective protection;
- Use of substandard or faulty electrical installations;
Personal Protective Equipment – PPE
All PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) bears the Certificate of Approval (CA) indication, issued by the competent national body of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.
Brazilian Regulatory Standard NR 6 stipulates that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be used according to the risks to which workers will be exposed in each activity. Therefore, there are various types of PPE to protect different parts of the body.
- Helmets: essential for protecting the head, and can have a front brim, a full brim, or a front brim with a visor.
- Safety glasses: prevent particles from entering the eyes during activities involving handling glass, welding, wood, chemicals, steel, and mortar.
- Hearing protection: reduces noise exposure, preventing hearing damage over time, and can be of the earmuff or earplug type.
- Respirator with filter: protects against dust generated by cutting materials such as wood, ceramics, bricks and tiles, in addition to offering protection against exposure to toxic or aggressive chemicals.
- Gloves: essential for protecting the upper limbs, they can be made with rubber compounds for protection against electric shocks and severe burns; there are also leather gloves suitable for handling aggressive materials and heavy-duty work, as well as neoprene and PVC gloves.
- Safety footwear: protects feet against punctures and falling objects, preventing slips.
- Parachute-style safety harness with safety lanyards: essential for preventing falls from a height, it has connection points to other safety elements to restrain a person in case of a fall.
