5 Useful Tips on How to Prevent Construction Accidents

In a rapidly growing city like San Antonio, the construction industry is booming so there is a substantially greater chance of construction accidents than in many other cities. There’s seldom a time when you should relax your situational awareness in a construction work zone, whether you’re part of the crew or a regular citizen passing through. Here are some helpful tips on how to prevent construction accidents.

HOW TO PREVENT CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS IF YOU WORK IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE:

  • Attend all your manager’s safety meetings—even if you don’t think the topic applies to your particular job. You may not be the one high up on the scaffolding, but pay attention, because the machinery you’re running on the ground always has the potential to compromise the safety of those working over your head.
  • Use all your provided safety gear—and then some. Don’t complete your hard-hat-and-high-vis-vest attire with camouflage pants. Especially if you’re working close to high-velocity traffic, the more colorful and reflective your apparel, the more likely you are to be seen and avoided, not unseen and hurt.
  • Get and stay in shape. Even just a few extra pounds around the middle can contribute to construction accidents, especially your ability to get out of the path of danger quickly should the need arise. No one likes to think about advancing age, but the fact is, age-related changes in your hearing, vision, and balance can impact your safety and that of the people working around you.

HOW TO PREVENT CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS IFYOU’RE PASSING THROUGH A CONSTRUCTION ZONE:

  • If you’re walking, never take a shortcut through a construction area, no matter how late you are. A high percentage of construction accidents happen because people are too impatient or too preoccupied to notice the danger to themselves and others.
  • When driving through a construction zone on city streets or on the highway, take a deep breath and slow down. Tailgating isn’t going to compel the law-abider in front of you to break the posted speed limit.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a construction accident in the San Antonio area, contact us at the Law Offices of Pat Maloney. We can help build your case.