10 Ways to Improve Jobsite Safety
By: Safety Ray
Staying #KeeleySafe isn’t just a goal here at L. Keeley, it is the expectation. We are a customer-centric partner providing innovative solutions. The safety, well-being, and career growth of our Keeley’ns are the benchmarks of our success. We firmly believe that if one team member fails to be safe, then we have all failed to be safe. As we work in the construction, infrastructure, technology, wireless, logistics, and development industries, we understand that our team members are presented with risk. In order to mitigate those risks and drive our expectation of ZERO incidents and injuries, we have to take precautions so that every single team member goes home to their families at the end of the day. Below are 10 ways to stay #KeeleySafe when on a jobsite!
1. Pre-Construction Planning
Planning is arguably one of the most important aspects of safety. Before a project begins, it is essential that a Pre-Construction Planning meeting is held. This ensures the safety of team members before they ever step foot on a jobsite. Companies and their team members should review plans for projects during the pre-bid phase to determine what safety measures need to be emphasized. Fall prevention and protection needs, as well as any necessary design changes and engineering controls needed to eliminate or mitigate fall hazards or other risk should be mapped, planned, and communicated.
2. Jobsite Safety Assessments
Jobsite Safety Assessments are instrumental in assessing risk and hazards. Safety Assessments are conducted by the following: CEO, President, Sr. Vice President, Project Managers, Safety Director, Field Safety Coordinators, and Field Supervisors. These observations are conducted on site, with the Supervisor and/or Foreman. Positive observations, as well as corrective opportunities are detailed in the report, along with pictures, and discussed with site personnel. The report should be distributed throughout the team and the information should be recorded and stored for future assistance should the need arise.
3. Job Briefing
Job Briefing should be conducted prior to the start of work, when any team members enter the jobsite, or when any significant changes occur. These briefings outline the tasks to be performed, the hazards associated with the task, and the corrective or control measures necessary to mitigate the hazard. These documents should be formalized and turned in with time sheets at the end of each day to ensure completion from all team members. Any person entering the jobsite should also be required to review the Job Briefing and provide a signature of their understanding of the hazards and control measures that are in place.
4. Safety Meetings
Teams should host weekly safety meetings for all team members on the jobsite. The purpose of these meetings is to review topics that are relative to the work in the field, but more importantly, to keep safety at the forefront of team member’s minds. Each hazard on the jobsite will require special planning and should be discussed during safety meetings to ensure all team members are congruent.
5. Celebrate Good Catches
In order to effectively drive proper risk identification and analysis, each jobsite should require Job Observations before work is allowed to begin and every time that the jobsite is revisited. All team members on jobsites need to be empowered to call out Good Catches and Near Misses. These can be sent out in a company-wide, weekly report recognizing those individuals for their effort in proactively making a safety improvement. The Good Catch and Near Miss reporting fosters a culture of safety celebration, instead of the negative connotation associated with safety failures.
6. Education
Initial and ongoing education can serve as key component to the continual improvement of a safety culture. New Hire Orientation, weekly safety meetings, and safety professional development, should present opportunities for all team members to learn new and helpful safety education topics. At L. Keeley, team members are required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of Safety and Professional Development each year. This education can be obtained through a variety of resources such as: our online Learning Management System, unlimited access to video training materials, Supervisor Safety Shorts, Awkward Moments, and Awkward Conversations with key leadership throughout the company, as well as training materials offered in Spanish. When hiring new team members, they should receive a detailed outline of expectations, task orientation, a site tour, and current skills assessment. All team members should also have the opportunity to complete OSHA 10, OSHA 30, and First Aid & CPR training classes.
7. PPE
All personal protective equipment (PPE) is safely designed, constructed, and maintained. When on a jobsite, PPE is always required. Wearing PPE is the difference between being safely covered and dangerously exposed. PPE is used to protect team members from slip, trip, and fall hazards or any other incidents that may happen on a jobsite. PPE programs can be put in place to address the importance of wearing it, and in turn, create a culture where team members monitor one another’s safety, furthering the effectiveness of the program.
8. Setting Rules and Standards
It is essential that a set of rules and standards are enforced and relayed to all team members. Below are incidents that L. Keeley has ZERO tolerance for to ensure the safety of all team members!
Failure to wear Fall Protection when required.
Destroying or removing without permission any property of the Owner, Employee, or Customers.
Provoking or engaging in a fight, disturbance, or horseplay.
Reporting for work under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances.
Possession or use of alcoholic beverages or controlled substances on the job site, other than prescribed medication.
Insubordination or refusal to work as directed or interfering with the work of any other employee.
Sleeping on the job.
Falsifying reports involving attendance, absence, sickness, or termination.
Submitting false claims for injury or compensation.
Refusal to work the scheduled hours, leaving work early without supervisory approval.
Smoking in prohibited areas at any time.
Unauthorized use, handling, or disposal of any chemical without proper authorization.
Overriding or defeating a safety device, including machine guarding.
Accessing live (energized) electrical systems without proper training, procedures, tools and authorization.
Ask for assistance if you do not understand the task.
Inspect your work area and correct/eliminate unsafe conditions.
Hard hats, safety glasses, construction grade work boots, and ANSI Class 2 reflective vests are required on all jobs.
Long pants and shirts with ¼ length sleeves are required for all employees.
9. Focus on Mental Health
Mental health is an important aspect of safety that is often overlooked. It includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Our mental health can affect how we think, feel, and act and it can also determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. It is imperative that team members make smart and safe choices when on a jobsite. Focusing on team members’ mental health and offering tools, resources, and helping hand is crucial. Team members should look out for one another and note warning signs if another team member seems to be struggling.
10. Communication
Communication is key. When on a jobsite, team members can effectively mitigate all safety risk by simply talking. From laborers to site supervisors, safety concerns and procedures should be communicated. Ensuring all things safety are spread across the board can help team members avoid risk and reduce injury likelihood.
Keeley Companies world-class safety culture, #KeeleySafe, is proud to help team members go home safe each and every day. A completely safe – ZERO incident jobsite – is possible with the right policies, procedures, philosophy, and most importantly, people in place. To learn more about our incredible safety culture, click here!
