13 Safety Items to Keep on the Jobsite

Safety does not live in a gang box. It comes from knowing the day’s hazards, choosing the right controls, making sure everyone understands the plan, and keeping the right equipment within reach.

Construction recorded 1,034 fatal work injuries in 2024—the most of any private industry sector and about one in five of all fatal work injuries in the United States, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. OSHA continues to emphasize four major construction hazards—falls, struck-by incidents, caught-in/between events, and electrocutions—through its Focus Four training.

Every project is different, so this list is a starting point—not a one-size-fits-all compliance checklist. Before work begins, evaluate the site, the tasks, the people doing the work, and the rules that apply. 

1. Secure perimeter and access controls. Use fencing, gates, barriers, lighting, or controlled entry where the site and its hazards call for them. Keep unauthorized people away from active work while maintaining clear access for crews and emergency responders.

2. Job-specific signs and barricades. Use clear signs to identify hazards, required PPE, restricted areas, overhead work, and equipment routes. Caution tape can warn people away, but use a secured barricade, guardrail, or cover when the hazard requires physical protection.

3. Site emergency information and communication. Post the exact site address, best responder entrance, emergency contacts, evacuation routes, and muster points where workers can find them quickly. Review fire, severe weather, and rescue plans with crews and subcontractors.

4. Accessible first-aid supplies and trained responders. Keep a stocked, protected first-aid kit where it is easy to reach, and inspect it regularly. Make sure trained help is available when required and that workers know how to report an injury and get medical assistance.

5. Properly fitting personal protective equipment. Select PPE for the work and the worker, including the right type and size. OSHA now explicitly requires construction PPE to fit properly, so keep replacement equipment available in the sizes crews actually need. Respirators may require additional program steps.

6. Chemical labels, safety data sheets, and spill supplies. Keep containers labeled and safety data sheets readily accessible during each shift. Stock spill materials that are compatible with the products onsite, and train workers on when to contain a spill, evacuate, or call for help.

7. Emergency eyewash and drenching facilities. Match eyewash and drenching equipment to the products and exposures onsite. A small squeeze bottle may be a useful supplement, but it may not replace the immediately available flushing facilities needed for corrosive materials.

8. Fire-protection equipment and a site fire plan. Provide the correct fire extinguishers for the hazards, keep them visible and accessible, and inspect them as required. Make expectations for alarms, evacuation, hot work, and fuel storage clear; workers should use an extinguisher only when trained and the site plan calls for it.

9. Complete fall-protection systems. Plan fall protection before work reaches the exposure. Use the system appropriate for the task, inspect equipment and anchorages, train workers, and include rescue planning—not just harnesses—in the conversation.

10. GFCI protection and safe temporary power. Use GFCI protection or another compliant grounding program for covered temporary receptacles. Inspect cords, tools, plugs, and panels; protect them from water and traffic; and remove damaged equipment from service.

11. The right ladders and stair access. Choose the right ladder type, material, length, and duty rating for the job. Inspect it before use, place it on a stable surface, secure it when needed, and remove damaged ladders from service.

12. Properly selected and operated lifts. Only trained and authorized workers should operate aerial and scissor lifts. Inspect the equipment and work area for power lines, unstable ground, drop-offs, traffic, weather, load limits, and fall-protection needs.

13. Locks, tags, and a complete hazardous-energy control process. Locks and tags are only part of energy control. Before service begins, identify and isolate every energy source, control stored energy, apply the required locks and tags, verify isolation, and coordinate responsibilities across crews and shifts.

Make the list part of the daily plan

The right equipment helps only when it is available, inspected, and used by people who understand the hazard. Build these essentials into pre-task planning, site walks, toolbox talks, and subcontractor coordination.

A strong safety culture is not a collection of slogans. It is the habit of noticing what could go wrong, speaking up early, and giving people the tools, time, and support to do the work safely.

^{Editorial note: This article provides general safety information and is not a substitute for a site-specific hazard assessment, applicable OSHA or State Plan requirements, local codes, manufacturer instructions, or qualified safety advice.}