A construction jobsite is a dangerous place, and a paving construction jobsite is no exception. Injuries and worse can occur at any time, usually the result of someone not paying proper attention or ignoring safety protocols. Explore the top tips for staying safe on a paving jobsite.

Paving Safety Tips
There are numerous hazards on a construction site, but there are a handful of serious injuries that occur again and again. Generally, these accidents are caused by the same thing. The following tips involve avoiding those common pitfalls. Top tips for paving safety include: 

 

  1. Watch went entering and exiting equipment and vehicles. Paving can include numerous pieces of heavy equipment and vehicles. Many accidents occur when operators fall while getting on or off vehicles and equipment. Simply falling can cause severe injuries, but those injuries can be compounded by falling into other equipment that is hot or moving or falling under other moving equipment. Workers should always take care when getting on or off a piece of equipment and make sure they maintain three points of contact at all times. Making sure gloves and footwear are tight and not wet or muddy is important as well.

 

  1. Maintain appropriate distances from operating equipment. Oftentimes, operating equipment has moving parts that pose a danger to those standing too close. Ensure that both workers operating equipment are checking for others standing close to the equipment, and that workers standing near operating equipment are aware and standing at a safe distance. Use barriers, flags, and signage as needed.

 

  1. Know where utilities are located. Both overhead and underground utilities pose a hazard to workers and need to be marked so their locations are always known. Underground utilities can include sewage, gas, electrical, and more. Digging for paving—or even laying heaving paving—can hit these utilities and cause explosions, leaks, injuries, and delays. Similarly, large machinery, like cranes, can also hit overhead electrical utilities, creating an electrocution hazard. Follow protocols on identifying and correctly marking utilities, and train workers to always look for utility markers before digging, installing paving, or using equipment high in the air.

 

  1. Use a spotter. Anytime that a worker cannot see 360 degrees around a moving piece of equipment while moving a heavy load with a crane or forklift, leveling equipment, or even maneuvering into a spot to par, a spotter should be used to ensure that the process goes through safely.

At Tucker Paving, we pride ourselves on having over 25 years in the asphalt and concrete paving industry, and safety has and always will be our leading priority! Contact us online, or call us at (863) 299-2262, for help with your asphalt or concrete paving project!