Construction Safety Terms

noun a barrier that is typically made of wood or metal and used to block passage or protect an area

verb to block or defend with a barricade

• The police erected a barricade to control the crowd during the protest.
• They put up a barricade to block off the road for construction.
• We had to bust through the barricade to get to the concert on time.
• Emotional barriers can act as a barricade to forming meaningful relationships.

noun a restraint or limit placed on someone or something

verb to hold or restrain someone or something

adverb in a backward direction

• Please remember to keep back from the edge of the platform while waiting for the train.
• Hey, can you keep back a bit so I can have some space too?
• Yo, dude, keep back, I'm trying to concentrate here.
• It's important to keep back your emotions and think logically in this situation.

noun a person who is negligent or acts negligently

adjective describes a person or behavior that shows a lack of care or attention

• The company was found negligent in their duty to provide a safe working environment.
• He was negligent in returning the borrowed tools on time.
• She's so negligent about keeping her room clean.
• His negligent attitude towards his health eventually caught up with him.

noun a piece of material made of string, rope, wire, etc., with spaces in between, allowing objects to pass through while still providing some form of barrier or containment

• The fishermen used fine mesh netting to catch small fish.
• I bought some netting to keep the bugs out of my garden.
• Let's hang out by the netting at the beach and catch some rays.
• The artist's use of netting in the painting added a sense of depth and texture.

noun a situation or plan that is not successful or feasible

verb to fail or be unsuccessful

adjective not successful or feasible

• The project was deemed a no go due to budget constraints.
• Looks like the beach trip is a no go this weekend.
• Sorry, dude, it's a total no go for me.
• Trying to convince her to change her mind was a no go.

noun a material or object that is shatterproof

adjective describing something that is resistant to shattering or breaking

• The shatterproof glass used in the construction of the building ensures safety for the occupants.
• I dropped my shatterproof phone case and it didn't even crack!
• These shatterproof sunglasses are a game changer for beach days.
• Her confidence was like a shatterproof shield, nothing could break it down.

verb to move unsteadily or in a way that is likely to fall or collapse

• The elderly woman began to totter as she struggled to maintain her balance.
• I saw the toddler totter across the room as he tried to walk on his own.
• After a few drinks, he started to totter around the party looking a bit wobbly.
• The economy seems to totter on the brink of collapse as unemployment rates continue to rise.

verb to cause air to enter and circulate freely in a room or building

• It is important to properly ventilate a room to ensure good air circulation.
• Make sure to open the windows to ventilate the stuffy room.
• I need to air out my gym bag to ventilate the smell.
• She needed to ventilate her feelings about the situation before moving forward.

noun the action or process of providing fresh air to an enclosed space

• The building regulations require proper ventilation in all rooms.
• Make sure to open the windows for some ventilation in here.
• I can't stand the stuffy air in this room, we need some ventilation.
• His writing style lacked ventilation, it felt suffocating to read.