Whenever you're in charge of workers of any type, one of the most important responsibilities that you're tasked with is to oversee the safety of everyone under your supervision. This sounds like it might be a straightforward task, but it's actually pretty demanding, especially on larger projects - and it requires a lot of your concentration to pull it off right. However, as long as you get some basics covered, the rest boils down to ensuring that everyone is observing the safety rules and regulations, and using their equipment properly.
Investing in some quality safety equipment should be on the top of your list when you're just getting started and preparing the whole project. Everyone should have access to a complete set of tools and clothes to protect them against any kinds of accidents, and if you're even more responsible then you're going to invest in the top grade brands on the market.
There are some basics that you must cover at all costs, so you should start with those in order to organize your budget properly. Proper chest and head equipment is often of the greatest importance, so pay attention to the equipment you're buying in those areas and always get the best gear you can afford. If you can't get the absolute best equipment, it might be worth waiting a while before commencing your project, so that you'll have good access to the better offerings on the market.
Are your workers doing any shifts at night or in other conditions with decreased visibility? Then make sure that they can be easily seen from anywhere on site by investing in some reflective equipment. Vests are the most important in this, but a good reflective helmet can also be of benefit.
Gloves are also obviously important, more so in some types of construction projects than others. Having a few pairs of heavy duty gloves available around the site can greatly improve the workflow for some types of jobs and make everything all around much safer.
Remember that it doesn't make much sense to invest in so much quality protective equipment if it goes to waste unused by your workers. If you want any of this to have an actual effect, you must make sure that everyone realizes the importance of their safety gear, and that everyone treats their equipment use seriously and properly. Give incentives for reporting colleagues that aren't abiding by the regulations, and even if that sounds like it's going to turn people against each other, it's not going to have such an effect, and it's actually very beneficial in the long run.
It's not that hard to make sure that your workers are kept safe and sound during their jobs, you just have to make sure that you have all the necessary equipment available, and that everyone is actually aware how to use their gear and has a good motivation to do so. The rest comes down to hiring people who understand their jobs properly, but that's a different story.
