Safely installing windows and fragile surfaces is risky. It has many hazards, including falling and smashing glass – both of which can cause serious harm to workers. The question is, how do you ensure the health and safety of all construction workers in these environments?
Fortunately, with the right safety measures in place, working with windows and fragile surfaces will not result in injury. Keep reading to learn more.
To safely install windows or fragile surfaces, workers need a stable platform to stand on and work from, no matter how short the fall may seem. That’s where a stable working platform comes in.
With a secure work platform, you can mitigate fall damage, allowing the construction worker to focus on the job without worrying about slipping. You can even find fragile roof access platforms for jobs on fragile roofs, ensuring you are secure no matter what surface you’re working on.
One of the risks of working with glass or other fragile materials is that they might fall. Even if it doesn’t land on a person, it can smash, causing injury to those nearby. There is a simple solution to prevent this – safety nets. By installing safety nets around the job site, you stop glass from smashing once it reaches the ground after a fall.
If you are working with glass, it’s important to have two people holding the glass at once. With only one person holding it, they could easily drop it and cause injury. The weight of the glass might even cause a fall from height. So, no matter how short the duration is that a person holds the glass, always dedicate two people to moving a piece of glass.
To prevent falls, guard rails are a must. Place them where construction workers will be working so that they don’t fall while working at height. They are crucial when working on fragile areas like roofs.
Falls are common in construction work, which is why fall arrest systems are so important. When workers are carrying out the work, they may accidentally step on an area they didn’t mean to. Falls through fragile surfaces may happen, and a fall arrest system could be the one thing that prevents serious injury.
Before any other safety solutions, all workers much be appropriately trained. Whether working on roof lights, cleaning a fragile roof, or installing new windows, they must know the safety measures in place and how to follow them. Training should include things like body positioning and how to carry glass properly. With a well-trained team, accidents are much less likely to occur.
Safe working is essential in the construction industry. With so many risks and health hazards, construction managers need to use the best safety measures they can – preferably recommended by a health and safety executive. Use these safety measures above to ensure your workers stay safe when installing windows and other fragile surfaces.
