There are arguably a lot of perks to owning your own contractor business. You get to call the shots, take on the amount of work you want, spend your days doing what you love, and potentially bring in a lot of money. That said, the job comes with some major responsibility, too. Contractors must address on-the-job safety hazards to help protect everyone.
Above all else, safety has to be a top priority. Without it, none of the rest of the details matter and the business fades away. Here are some of the top on-the-job safety hazards every general contractor should address.
Safety Gear
Whenever you pass by a worksite, you see workers in hard hats, boots, and other characteristic clothing. While these pieces are certainly synonymous with the building industry, they are there for more than just looks. Safety wear is an added level of protection for workers on the job site, protecting them from a wide range of mishaps.
General contractors need to be on top of their workers’ gear, making sure that everyone has what they need. From steel-toed boots to protective goggles, gloves, and more, contractors need to ensure that their staff is protected. Setting clear guidelines about when protective gear should be worn and when it needs to be replaced is paramount.
Heavy Equipment Safety
The risk of having a piece of large machinery harm a worker is very real. Heavy-duty equipment is powerful and can be unpredictable in the wrong hands. Contractors need to make sure that all workers are trained on the safety rules around these pieces of machinery. Even those who won’t be operating the equipment need to know how to stay safe around it.
Ladder Safety
Heights are a hazard. We’ve all seen the comical movie scenes where someone on a ladder leans over too far. Sadly, in real life ladder mishaps can be quite serious. It’s important that contractors ensure everyone on the team knows how to safely use and be around ladders.
Electrical Safety
Electricity is something to always be mindful of. It is all over the place on a worksite. Tools get worn and damaged. Crews are required to work around or near power sources. Everyone working in contracting needs to be fully aware of electrical safety.
Repetitive Task Safety
It’s the nature of the job. Many contracting tasks require repetitive motions. Contractors need to stay on top of what their employees are working on and ensure they are getting proper break times and rotation of tasks to avoid physical strain.
Reducing Office Stress
Office tasks must be taken care of, but few enjoy this part of the job. Luckily, there’s a way you can take the contractor financing portion completely off your plate. Having financing to offer your customers is incredibly easy when you partner with HFS Financial. Homeowners need loans for contractors to complete jobs and HFS Financial can match them with the ideal funds for the project. Talk to HFS Financial today to find out more about how we simplify the home improvement financing process. You Dream It, We Finance It!