Construction Site Safety Lessons

A safe work site is assured when management is supportive and employees are motivated to work safe. Safety training ensures the workforce is knowledgeable about safe work practices, regulations, company policies, and their craft. Conducting safety meetings and safety training plays a critical role in communicating the company's safety program to its employees and training them to perform their jobs safely (see Reference 1).

New Employee Orientation

• All new employees must participate in new employee orientation. Because of the amount of information received in orientation and in the first few days of a new job, this training should be broken down into a minimum of two parts that includes, among other topics, basic company safety policies and job-site specific safety hazards and policies (see Reference 1).

  The job-site specific orientation may be different for individual departments, divisions, or individuals. The safety briefs must be tailored to the individual needs and job of the new employee and should include topics such as where to go in case of an emergency, a walk-through of the job site showing safety equipment, required personal protective equipment for the job, hazardous materials used on the job site, and where the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) can be found for those materials.

Safety Training/Meetings

• Safety meetings and training can be conducted on a daily, weekly or even monthly basis. Depending on the industry and the hazards associated with the specific job, short, informal meetings and training can be held multiple times per day to enable communication between supervisors and the workers performing the jobs.

  Tools, such as the Job Safety Analysis (JSA), required before the start of the job provide the perfect opportunity to provide training on the equipment or personal protective equipment to be used, ensuring that all employees are properly trained for the task.

Job-Specific Safety Training

• OSHA 1926.21 requires that, "The employer shall instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his work environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury" (see Reference 2). Along with new employee orientation, employees who change jobs, job duties, or whose safety practices need improvement should have additional job-specific safety training that includes good work practices, the care, maintenance and limitations of personal protective equipment, risks associated with any hazardous material used in the performance of the job, and the demonstration of these practices (see Reference 1)

Supervisory Training

• Supervisors set the pace in any work environment. A supervisor who looks out for his employees' safety will have a better safety record than one that does not. To be effective, supervisors should attend a specific supervisor safety training that emphasizes the reinforcement of the company's commitment to a safe work environment, reviews the company's safety policies, reviews in detail the benefits of a JSA, conducting impromptu safety meetings, how to handle unsafe conditions, accident investigation procedures, coaching, counseling, and documentation. The supervisor is on the front line of the business every day and plays a large role in the company's success and safety. Honing a supervisor's safety skills will better prepare the business for the future (see Reference 1).