Radios on Construction Job Sites: A Perk for Workers or a Danger for All?
When it comes to construction sites, is there anything more important than safety? If you’re a construction supervisor then you’re likely to say that safety is the most important thing. That said, where does one draw the line? Some people say that having radios on the job is safe while others say it’s not. Do the potential safety issues warrant them being banned from sites? Read on to learn more.
Do the results of this recent study surprise you?
If you have a strong feeling about the safety of using typical job site tools while a radio is being used then you may be surprised to learn the results of a recent survey – or perhaps they’ll be in line with what you imagine. Regardless, here is what was found. When 730 builders were questioned, it turns out that four out of five had no policy at all regarding using a radio on the job site.
The radio ban isn’t always for the reasons you think
It may be true that only one out of every five job sites has an official policy on radios, but among those, about 18% say that it’s not about the safety issue at all. Instead, it’s because it makes it harder to communicate. This is because the music may be louder than the methods of communication the job has set up, and it can also be because workers are simply concentrating on the radio instead of listening for communication.
The trouble with using radios on the job site
Construction managers have said over and over that radios can be a huge distraction on a job site. They say that it can be hard to get the crew to agree on one type of music or radio station to listen to. It can be hard to settle on a volume that works for everyone. It can also distract and even aggravate other workers. Since the only reason to use a radio is to improve employee morale, some are curious why anyone would allow a radio on a construction site at all.
What about earbuds – surely they’re safe?
Those who believe that the only issue is that the music can distract others may think that listening to music via earbuds should be fine. After all, this is a personal choice and it doesn’t bother anyone else, right? Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. The issue with this option is that the person using the earbuds can’t hear what’s going on around them. They can’t hear directions from their manager and they may not hear warnings that a dangerous situation is upon them.
We have all the safety equipment you need
At Grove Hardware, we can’t tell you whether or not radios are appropriate for the job site. We can offer you safety equipment that can keep your workers safe. Stop by to shop our selection or give us a call at 909-544-4331 if you have questions.
