By Mike Bosshard, Director of Safety, The Anderson Construction Group
In construction, it is paramount that safety is the most important part of the project. There are constant hazards that are on every job site from the machinery being used to the work tasks being performed each day. Because of this, it is imperative that everyone on site remains aware, is prepared, and is informed of the best practices to remain safe while completing projects.
In my experience, the process to evaluate and adjust for safety concerns on site can be explained in three stages. Planning, Prevention, and Execution or P.P.E for short.
Planning Stage
Having a well-established and easy to follow daily work task plan is essential to any work operations as it will clearly define who is responsible for the work, what are the hazards related to the work, what controls will be enacted to reduce risk, and what PPE (personal protective equipment) will be worn during the operation. Some of the topics you should take into consideration during this stage includes but isn’t limited to:
PPE
- Safety Glasses/Face Shields Hard Helmets
- Hearing Protection
- Hi visibility and protective clothing (long pants, boots, etc.)
Site Conditions
- Soil Stability
- Levelness
- Power lines and other utilities
- Open excavations
Specialized Training Requirements
- Heavy Machinery
- Working at heights
- Power tools
Site Traffic Control
- Areas of access
- Traffic flow
- Material lay down areas
- Delivery scheduling
- Yard housekeeping
Prevention Stage
Identifying potential hazards before they cause accidents is a critical step in ensuring site safety. Conducting thorough risk assessments at the beginning of every day, and continuously updating them as work progresses, helps in pinpointing areas that require additional safety measures. This allows for the implementation of appropriate controls, such as installing guardrails or other safety protocols. A few examples of these protocols can be:
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Ensuring that all employees have been supplied with and trained in the proper use of items such as Hard Helmets, approved safety glasses / goggles, boots, gloves or other that may be required for the tasks at hand. All PPE must be regularly inspected and maintained.
20/20/20 Rule
Encourage all employees to take 20 seconds every 20 minutes to look 20 feet around them to actively identify and evaluate any new hazards that may arise.
Housekeeping
Good housekeeping practices are essential in preventing accidents. A clean and organized worksite will reduce the risks of slips, trips, and falls. This involves regularly cleaning of debris, properly storing materials, and ensuring that walkways are free of obstructions. Regular site inspections should be conducted to identify any potential hazards that could lead to accidents.
Execution Stage
This is where the rubber meets the road. All the steps taken in the planning and prevention stages will culminate here in the actions employees will take for the implementation of safe working procedures during their shift. During this time there are some key questions to ask to ensure everything has been accounted for.
- Is there documentation for any/all training required for the work task(s)? Think Job Safety Analyses, Toolbox Talks, OSHA 10/30 certs, etc.
- Does every employee on site know their role and responsibilities for the day?
- Are all employees following the plan(s) set in place?
- Have all hazards that have been identified been eliminated?
- Is there a plan of action if other hazards emerge during the task?
Consistent and successful site safety planning can be seen as daunting when looking at everything at once. However, by breaking it down to simplified steps, stages, and processes, it can make the creation and implementation of a solid safety plan extremely simple.
