Safety of Your Workers in Remote Locations

Working in remote locations poses a greater risk to workers’ safety. In the oil, mining, and construction industries, sites are often located in the middle of the desert or in arctic regions. Apart from the hazards of the job, workers are often exposed to harsh weather conditions.

Worker safety is the responsibility of every employer. Reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring the comfort of every team member is vital to the operation. Therefore, their protection should always be a priority.

Improving the safety of workers in remote locations is the duty of every company. Keeping each team member comfortable and happy motivates them to do their job despite the challenges.

Here’s how to improve worker safety on remote sites

Provide comfortable accommodation

Working in remote locations requires safe and comfortable accommodations. Employers should provide adequate housing for the remote workforce to protect workers from the outside elements. To ensure their safety, here are some key features to look out for:

Effective Insulation: Locations with severe weather conditions require strict insulation. It creates a safe and warm place for workers to relax after a long day in the field. One excellent option is an insulated fabric structure that is ready for efficient HVAC installation.

Air filters: Providing clean, healthy air is vital to worker wellness. Its housing should contain air filters to keep dust and dirt at bay. This feature is required on job sites in the middle of the desert.

Mud: Workers need an area to clean themselves before entering their workplace. Every dwelling should have a mudroom designated for leaving dirty outer clothes and cleaning up dirt and dust.

Comfortable accommodation makes workers feel at home. Providing them with the relaxation they deserve can help keep them motivated and energized for their work.

Maintain the cleanliness of the work site

Hygiene is critical to health and safety. Most industries operating in remote locations often deal with dirt, dust, and debris. In this case, the maintenance of the area may be more difficult.

Clearing work stations from obstructions can prevent injury-causing accidents. It also provides a fast and safe way to get around, especially during emergencies.

Work with the local emergency response team

Emergency response is critical to any remote operation. Although health and safety risks are reduced, accidents may still occur. Therefore, the company must cooperate with the nearest emergency response services.

Immediate response to emergencies, primarily health-related, can save lives. Since the remote locations are far from hospitals, the company must provide first aid care. The site should have a dispensary with health workers ready to respond 24/7, with an ambulance on standby.

Do emergency drills

Working in remote places exposes the workforce to disasters such as storms and earthquakes. Since you cannot predict these incidents, it is best to train workers to respond quickly and effectively when they occur.

Fire, storm and earthquake emergency drills are essential for worker safety. These exercises help keep them calm during stressful situations and help save each other’s lives. They also learn where to evacuate during disasters.

Equipping every worker with first aid skills can keep them safe. Since health is paramount, knowing how to provide first aid care is essential.

Carry out regular health checks

Monitoring the health of each worker to maintain his safety and health. Frequent exposure to harmful chemicals and fumes can affect one’s health so regular check-ups are required.

Getting regular medical exams can prevent future health emergencies. For example, a team member who has frequent high blood pressure is at risk of having a heart attack. In this case, the worker must undergo more frequent health monitoring.

Strictly enforce the wearing of protective equipment

Strict enforcement of the wearing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required in any job, especially when working in remote locations. Since these locations put workers at greater risk, they must always wear protective clothing.

The type of protective equipment each worker needs depends on the nature of their job. For example, employees who handle harmful chemicals should always wear chemical-resistant work clothes. The company must prioritize the quality of personal protective equipment to prevent damages leading to accidents.

Set up visual tags and labels

Visible signs and markings are vital to worker safety. The oil, mining, and construction industries require drilling and heavy equipment. Therefore, warnings and safety instructions must always be read.

Frequent site scans help update alerts. Exposure to severe weather conditions may cause signs to fade. In this case, updating them is imperative.

Implement a zero tolerance policy

Workers in remote areas need to develop healthy professional relationships. Management must not tolerate violence among workers for their safety. Apart from these disputes, the company must also implement severe penalties for action for violations of the Code.

Run regular machine maintenance

The machines require regular maintenance. Its absence can endanger operator safety due to machine failure. In the worst case scenario, a minor glitch can take one’s life.

Performing regular machine testing and maintenance keeps everything safe and efficient. Helps keep the process running while protecting workers from accidents. It can also save higher expenses on machine repairs and replacements.