According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction is one of the most dangerous sectors to work in, with laborers named in the top four occupations with the highest number of fatalities. Contractors and machine operators are clearly most at risk, but they can also be the most influential in understanding how to improve on-site safety. Here Connie Hardy, vice president of marketing at surface preparation specialist National Flooring Equipment, explores how equipment manufacturers can learn from contractors to create a safer industry.

According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), construction workers engage in many activities that may expose them to serious hazards, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting 21,400 nonfatal workplace injuries in 2022. 

OSHA encourages best practices in construction with initiatives like the Focus Four. This training program raises awareness about the four primary jobsite hazards — falls, caught-in or between equipment, struck-by falling materials and electrocution. 

Delivering training that promotes implementing steps to mitigate these hazards, such as implementing fall protection measures, ensuring proper equipment usage, and maintaining a safe working environment, is key to this program. As a result, OSHA aims to reduce the occurrence of common construction injuries and protect contractors from risks associated with transporting and operating equipment, as well as working on a jobsite. 

While this is key to safety, how can contractors lift a 200-pound flooring machine onto a trailer, drive it to a jobsite, unload it, take it up two flights of stairs and complete a flooring job without ever risking injury? By choosing machines designed with safety in mind.

Machine transit 

Transporting machinery to a site can be challenging. While it may feel more like simple logistics rather than a safety risk, lifting machinery onto transport, up stairs or across rooms when on the jobsite could cause injury. Designing machinery for safe and secure transit can help protect staff and members of the public. 

Fork pockets, for example, improve safety when moving large ride-on machines with a forklift. The forks slide into pockets fitted to the machine’s underside, keeping it stable during transit. Manufacturers can also include features like anchor points for securing the equipment or lifting arms for hoisting it into position. 

Walk-behind scrapers, while smaller, can still be difficult to maneuver. Modular scraper designs or removable weights are helpful, particularly when carrying the machine up stairs in buildings lacking an elevator.

Operational hazards

Good working practices help mitigate risks to contractors on site. Proper dust management, for example, is essential as surface preparation jobs like grinding, scarifying and shot blasting create dust, which is harmful if inhaled. Using a dust collector fitted with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter removes microscopic particles, which are often the most dangerous. 

In addition, frequently using heavy equipment that requires high operator input can lead to musculoskeletal symptoms. Machines with independently powered wheels, on the other hand, offer enhanced maneuverability, enabling them to pivot and turn independently with little operator input, significantly reducing operator fatigue and enhancing efficiency.

Likewise, machines that give contractors increased control can provide a safer working environment. Unlike conventional floor scrapers that operate on a binary on/off mode, advanced scrapers, such as the Rogue, offer comprehensive customization of speed and blade oscillation, ensuring optimal performance and operator safety.

Communication

Communication is also key to creating a safe working environment. For instance, contractors should inform facility managers of any issues that arise during a job to reduce the risk of injury while on site. To make long term change, contractors can also collaborate with equipment manufacturers, sharing their on-site experiences to understand what new machine features could help improve safety for construction workers throughout the industry. 

The introduction of health and safety measures has helped the construction industry make significant steps to improve safety, but it’s clear that continuous work on heavy-duty machinery can put contractors at risk. Equipment manufacturers can play an integral role in further improving safety by listening to machine operators. By adapting machines to contractor feedback, manufacturers can design flooring equipment that delivers productivity but also keeps the operator out of harm’s way.