Material handling compliance is essential in order to minimise the risk of injury or fatalities among construction workers and others who may be present on a job site. Materials compliance also helps prevent damage to construction equipment while preventing delays and material loss. In this brief guide, we present best practices that should be implemented in order to ensure materials compliance in construction.

Materials Handling Compliance Best Practices

The following best practices will help ensure your construction materials never become a source of trouble.

Identify potential risks

Before any materials arrive on-site you should conduct a thorough risk assessment that details potential risks posed by the storage and handling of those materials. This will help ensure they are properly handled and stored and that you have the right equipment on hand to deal with them.

Make sure everyone involved is properly trained and certified

Before anyone touches anything make sure that everyone who will have direct contact with building materials is properly trained in lifting techniques, equipment operation and established material handling protocols.

Make sure everyone has the appropriate PPE

Make sure that everyone who will have anything to do with handling building materials has PPE appropriate to the materials they will be handling. That includes steel-toed boots, robust work gloves, hard hats and safety vests.

Conduct regular safety inspections

It only takes one mistake to introduce unnecessary risk to the work environment. Make sure you nip such instances in the bud by conducting regular safety inspections and taking prompt corrective action when necessary.

Practice continuous training

Never miss an opportunity to pass on new or updated information regarding the materials on your site to your crew. Continuous training is the best way to avoid accidents and ensure your site is always a paragon of safe practices.

Formulate an emergency response plan

Despite your efforts, you may still come face to face with an emergency stemming from improper storage or handling of materials. Make sure you prepare for such an eventuality by formulating a comprehensive emergency response plan prior to accepting materials on-site.

Summary

Integrate the above best practices into your job site routine to ensure materials compliance on your construction site.