In the hard-hat job industry, safety is of grave importance. In 2016 alone, OSHA claims over 5,000 workers were killed on the job. That’s more than 14 deaths per day!
On hazardous job sites, implementing safety measures should be a top priority for everyone involved. So how do you build a safety program that will keep your workers safe?
- Upper management should get on board – immediately.
A company’s executives have to be just as committed to safety as their laborers. Safety should be the first element of every employee’s training, workplace accidents should be thoroughly investigated, and employee commitment to safety should be recognized! Has a specific construction manager gone a year without having any accidents on their projects? Did a construction worker create a solution to make the site safer? Upper management executives should regularly give out recognition and incentive gifts to employees who show a high self-standard for safety.
- Don’t underestimate the value of training.
Training is typically seen as a right of passage for your first days or weeks of work. While it’s important for employees to get thorough training when they start their position, training never becomes obsolete. If there is a new tool, a new safety procedure, or a new software being used, employees should be trained how to properly implement these new elements immediately.
- Go by the book.
There should be a safety manual for every process and every job within your company. This helps reduce any ambiguity in job roles or safety mechanisms. Do workers have to use protective ear gear when using power tools? What should an electrician do if they see a frayed wire? Your employees should know how to answer all of these questions the first day they start work.
- Eliminate as much risk as possible.
While there are legal standards in place that make certain job site hazards illegal, a relaxed project manager can stay well within OSHA guidelines and still subject their employees to unnecessary risk. All potential hazards should be eliminated as much as possible. The best way to do this, other than consistent and frequent safety inspections, is to offer an employee survey that lets workers report potential hazards they see day to day that make them feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
5) Use constant vigilance – now and in the future.
Your safety processes cannot become stale. New technology, new employees, and new changes to your company can all render former safety plans incorrect or irrelevant. Make sure that your safety processes are reconsidered yearly.
