The need for safety is huge on a construction site. Whether the crew is building a house or a sky-rise building, the people and equipment moving around it make that area a high potential for injury. The some of the most common injuries are falling from heights, a scaffold collapse, electric shock, and failure to use proper personal protective equipment.

The failure to follow safety procedures, many times, is a prelude to accidents. The work area needs to keep clear from unused scrapes of wood, glass, metal, and vehicles. Wearing hard hats is construction industry standard.

When looking at a housing construction site it is best to remember that it’s a smaller rendition of larger construction units that are being built around the country. The first and most important thing to remember is that an organized site is a safe site. Put the wood in one spot, the roofing in another, the siding in anther, and other items as they are needed in other areas. Set up a dedicated area in which to cut wood, tile and anything else that is needed. Keep the pathways clear to and from these areas because tripping over things can cause a lot of accidents. A bruise or cut may be the least of a person’s worries after they trip and fall. Hitting their head can be a major medical incident and must be attended to immediately, so be sure to wear helmets when applicable.

The construction workers are to stay clean of the small front-end loaders when it’s working as well as any other construction equipment that is operating. All the overhead guards on the machinery are there so the operator will be protected against falling objects. Trucks are to be operated at a safe speed. All the loads on the trucks and other construction equipment are to be “safely arranged and fit within the rated capacity of whatever equipment the driver was operating. If any equipment is considered to be unsafe or defective then they should be removed from service. There is to be a separate area in which to charge the batteries for the equipment, and smoking not allowed in these areas.

Whenever a person cuts wood, installs siding, tile or anything else with a blade, they need to wear safety goggles because it can deflect small pieces of wood or metal, this leading to severe injury or even causing blindness. Safety with electricity and electrical cords is another matter with great concern. Never work on new and existing energized (hot) electrical circuits. Only work on them when all the power is shut off and the grounds are attached. Make sure all cords and cables are undamaged. Replace all frayed, damaged, or worn electrical cords or cables. All extension cords must have grounding prongs, so that you are protected against any electrical hazards. The heavy duty cable with three wires and a three-pronged plug ensure that the cable will take the right amount of electrical load. Not only is proper construction site safety critical to job safety, it’s also required by law, so be sure to plan accordingly.

Whether you are a construction recruitment agency or a construction firm itself looking to hire the best of talent industry has to offer, here are a few important tips to help you in this quest.

Hire in the off season:

Conventional wisdom has it that you must never go grocery shopping while you are hungry. You tend to buy whatever you get at the earliest and that’s almost never a good bargain. The same is true for hiring tradesmen when you need them.

So the best time to look for a tradesman is when you don’t require one. It will help you scan wide range of talents, be more selective, and acquire the kind of worker you exactly want. As an added piece of advice, aim for the off-season when many construction workers are out of work and you might get a bargain.

Pay the market rate:

When you pay peanuts, you get only monkey! Firms who pay below-market wages not only have the least-qualified and least-productive employees, but they are also the ones always in need of new workers. Why? Because competitive tradesmen will leave you the moment they get more lucrative opportunities. Do I need to tell you what a dent it makes to overall productivity? Sell your house in Dallas

Provide a safe work environment:

Don’t underestimate the value of a safe and healthy workplace in retaining workforce. Too many workers falling sick on site might force others to look for a safer option. A major accident on site and the resultant bad press might turn away potential hires.

Develop a great work culture:

There is something more than a good salary a qualified and talented tradesman look forward to. Bonuses, paid leaves, company outings, work-life balance, and retirement programs are some of the perks that entice the best of talents. The more people want to work for your company, the easier it will be to attract (and retain) quality people.

Invest in your workforce:

I haven’t met a tradesman who doesn’t like adding on new skills or getting a pat on the back for a job well done. So it’s a good idea to invest in your workforce. When you provide them a chance to learn, grow and develop they can help your company do the same. Training improves the efficiency of the workers and quality of the output. This is also a great way to identify the people with potential to take on bigger roles within the company.

Be in step with time and technology:

Embracing technology not only makes the company more efficient and productive but it also attracts younger and tech-savvy workforce. You can also publicize it as your USP to entice people buying your product or services.

Character can pay more dividend than the skill-set of a hire:

Characters can’t be built, skills can be. People with character can make the most of the training you give them. Such workers are more likely to stick with you in bad times as compared to those with only skills and potential.