Wintery conditions increase the risk of slips and falls outdoors, leading to potentially serious and life-changing injuries. On a national scale, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) report that 31% of all non-fatal injuries are caused as a result of slips, trips or falls on the same floor level (PDF: 'Kinds of accident statistics in Great Britain, 2018'). With a reduction in daylight hours over this winter period, outdoor workers need to be more aware of their surroundings ('Construction focus: safety in the darker winter months').
To combat these statistics, Surrey-based signage specialists Stocksigns Group has a wide range of outdoor construction safety signage in preparation for the weather taking a turn for the worst. Contractors and other people who oversee the control of a construction site must work together to manage the potential risks and eliminate these, allowing people to move safely around the site.
The main causes for slips and trips on these sites include uneven surfaces, obstacles, trailing leads and cables, wet or slippery surfaces and unexpected changes in the flooring level (HSE: 'Slips and trips'). Implementing the appropriate signage in locations where risks are high is a crucial safety tool to save injuries and even lives.
Many individuals take traditional signage for granted across construction industry, but these are legal requirements by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) which requires employers to protect against these hazards in the workplace ('Slips, Trips, and Falls Safety Training in the Construction Industry'). The UK has an aging workforce, as the number of people aged 65 and over is projected to rise by nearly 50 per cent by 2024, and by 2050 a quarter of the UK population will be aged over 65, therefore the preparations for not only this winter, but future harsh weather conditions must be taken now.
Stocksigns Group's essential hazard signs help alert and warn of potential dangers in and around a site. Hazard signs cover three main areas; Danger, Warning and Caution dependent on the severity of the threat. Made available in aluminium and rigid plastic, the Stocksigns Group range of construction safety signage are fully compliant with ISO 7010. The signage specialists are committee members of the Heath and Safety Sign Association (Stocksigns Accreditations), as well as being an active supporter and partner of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).
Managing Director of the Stocksigns Group, Danny Adamson said: "It's crucial for both employers and employees to be made aware of the risks when working in treacherous conditions outdoors. We have a duty as signage professionals to guide individuals in making the correct choices when implementing signage around a site, maximising the levels of safety and reducing the potential risks to themselves and others around them.
"We are determined as a business to combat these underlying statistics for accidents in the industry. Many people don't spot the dangers on a worksite and we feel that it is part of our responsibility at Stocksigns to educate all individuals on a wide array of signage that can prevent serious accidents or worse."
To view the full range of safety signage for the cold months ahead, please visit the Stocksigns Group website here: www.stocksigns.co.uk
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Latest Construction News
21/11/2024
Europe's leading online cleanroom consumables supplier, Cleanroomshop, has recently launched a brand-new website, giving its users an improved user experience. The new website continues to offer over 2,000 products from more than 40 brands, whilst incorporating a new look and more efficient ...
21/11/2024
At Ecomerchant, we offer a carefully curated selection of sustainable weatherproofing solutions, including natural lime renders, mineral finishes, and vapour-open waterproofing materials. They help prevent structural damage while ensuring your building can breathe naturally. Our eco-friendly ...
20/11/2024
Construction firm Willmott Dixon has partnered with Westminster City Council on a £36 million project to restore the historic Seymour Centre in Marylebone, a Grade II listed building dating back to the 1930s. The project, procured through the SCF framework, will see the three-storey centre undergo ...
20/11/2024
The Hill Group has commenced work on a new development in Billericay, Essex, which will deliver 179 high-quality homes across a 20-acre site. Designed to blend with Billericay's scenic countryside while addressing the pressing demand for sustainable housing, the project is located on Kennel Lane ...
20/11/2024
Extensive groundwork is underway for a new housing development in Maidstone, where Vistry Group, in partnership with Legal & General Affordable Homes, is set to build 272 properties on the site of the former Tovil Quarry off Farleigh Hill. The project will include 37 affordable homes for low-cost ...
20/11/2024
Stonewater has scooped a new energy efficiency retrofit contract with compliance and energy services provider Correct Contract Services. This work, funded through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) Wave 2, will include a range of energy-saving upgrades. Measures such as loft ...
20/11/2024
Kier has been appointed by Cambridgeshire County Council to deliver building, mechanical, and electrical maintenance services across the Council's portfolio of 160 corporate buildings. The contract, which began in November 2024, will run until 2027, with the possibility of two one-year extensions ...
20/11/2024
Builders use water for various functions on the job, they utilise this resource for worker hygiene, hydration, concrete batching, grouting, dust suppression, drilling and piling. If companies mismanage this water use, they can increase their environmental impact. When the industry comes ...
20/11/2024
Edmond Shipway has been appointed to a pioneering initiative tackling homelessness in Greater Manchester, providing project management and cost consultancy services on the second phase of Embassy Village. Set to deliver 40 purpose-built homes for men facing homelessness in Manchester, Embassy ...
20/11/2024
West Sussex County Council is inviting residents to share their views on proposed transport improvements at the Hazelwick and Tushmore junctions on the A2011 Crawley Avenue. The proposals aim to make walking, cycling, and public transport more appealing for short journeys. This initiative is part ...