Did you know? Between 1994 and 2013 in the US, 143 minors under 18 died while working in construction, highlighting the industry’s high fatality rate for child workers. (Safety Culture)
Although today, child labor has significantly reduced, still kid safety around the construction sites is an issue that is concerning for many parents.
If there’s a repair or creation of some infrastructure going on near their house, their curiosity will not stop, and they will eventually reach the places where heavy machinery is executing their operations.
As a parent, your priority should be to monitor their actions and prevent them from indulging in the areas where their life is at potential risk.
In this blog post, we are going to see some of the safety protocols that you can tell your ward to follow and safeguard them from numerous vulnerabilities.
Teaching Children About Construction Safety
Your first step in keeping the kids safe from injury is teaching them about construction site safety in general. Most kids enjoy learning new things, so it’s important to go outside and have fun together.
Moreover, as you can see on this site, some plant equipment is enormous. As soon as your children get up close and personal with these behemoths, it is far more likely they will gain a primordial understanding of why they can be so dangerous.
In most instances, merely speaking about site safety won’t do much and, at worst, will simply encourage them to seek out the kinds of things you’re describing. But by making the experience more interactive, they will gain a newfound appreciation of how massive and scary they are.
Intriguing Insights This infographic here shows the major reasons for accidents at construction sites.
Discuss Your Worries With The Contractors And Ask Them To Stow Their Tools Away When Not In Use
If you have contractors around at your home to perform a specific job using heavy machinery, then discussing your situation with them is worthwhile. You should comprehend situations in ways like:
Contractors appreciate your concern for safety to prevent injuries and litigation. Speak politely and inquire about how they secure machinery after hours.
This will help you determine what measures to take to keep your kids safe. You can also ask if it’s acceptable for your child to view the work.
Observing the machinery may scare them away, though it could also have the opposite effect. Combined with other tips, you can mitigate this risk.
Did you know? Dust, asbestos, and other toxic materials present on construction sites can cause respiratory illnesses and long-term health difficulties if inhaled by children. (Safety Culture)
Try To Keep Your Child Occupied With Something Else
If there is any work scheduled over the weekend or into the evening after school, you must consider alternative activities to keep your child occupied.
Spending more time on their extracurricular activities and embracing their hobbies can also become the best way to distract them from invading unsafe sites where constructions and demolitions are confined.
Discuss The Rules About The Machinery, And Don’t Be Afraid To Be Strict
This advice is aimed at parents who favor a more relaxed or less strict discipline style with their children. Although this approach may be acceptable in some contexts, being too lenient could pose serious risks to your child’s safety and potentially lead to permanent, life-altering harm.
Therefore, you must lay down the law and make sure that they understand the consequences of their actions. The punishments will vary from person to person depending on what they enjoy and their age, but you need to be uncompromising in your discipline if you want to keep them safe from harm.
Keep them updated with comprehensive safety measures to ensure that they are aware of the threats to the environment. These precautions include tips like:
Be mindful and follow signs.Provide clear instructions.Keep the construction site tidy.Organize and store tools properly.Use the right equipment for each task.Prepare an emergency response plan.Set up safeguards.
Make Sure You Supervise If They Are Curious And Want To See The Machinery
It’s completely normal for a young child to want to go out and see these massive machines at work. When this happens, you should try to make time to accompany them. By going with them, you can answer all their questions and instill a sense of how crucial safety is around these large machines
It can often seem like a terrifying prospect to have large-scale work performed at your home when you have small children around the place. But, with a bit of common sense and an understanding that you have to instill an appreciation of the machines into them, they should remain safe. Make sure to follow all the guidelines above to avoid hassles and ensure prevention factors in the children exploration environment
Gaurav Rathore
