Do’s & Don’ts from the Field: Would Your Jobsite Pass a Safety Inspection?

By Deb Hilmerson

After more than 30 years in the construction industry, much of that as an independent safety consultant, I have seen more than my share of safety problems. While we are all rightfully concerned about fatalities, it’s relevant to note the construction industry’s non-fatal injury rates are 71% higher than other industries.¹ It’s no wonder that construction inspections comprise 60% of OSHA’s total inspections.

If you’ve been dealing with the same safety concerns for a long time, it’s easy to convince yourself better options don’t exist. That may no longer be true, especially for some of the biggest risk areas. This is a good time to reevaluate your jobsite’s safety protocols.

Lack of workplace safety = reputation, legal + financial implications 

Ours is a highly competitive industry. When accidents are reported on TV and social media, and/or repeated safety violations land a company on OSHA’s watch list, the negative public perception can seriously damage your reputation. Depending on the circumstances, jobsite supervisors may also be held personally accountable for an injury.

Injuries can also lead to increased workers’ compensation premiums, as well as big fines from OSHA. Even something related to health or safety, but that would not result in serious injury or death, could result in fines up to $12,934 per violation. For something deemed to be a willful or intentional violation of OSHA standards, those fines could skyrocket up to $129,336 per violation and possibly jail time for individuals.

Lead by example

Everyone will follow your example. Therefore, you must be actively engaged in, and reinforce, safety best practices. Make time to review the safety precautions related to each task and ensure your people have the safety gear to perform the job safely.

That also means starting every meeting with a safety topic. Set the safety expectations at the beginning of the job and hold everyone accountable for their own safety performance. Be specific. Don’t just talk in general terms about compliance with local laws and rules.

And don’t assume your safety conversations with project managers get communicated accurately (if at all) to the field. Prevent communication breakdowns by talking with everyone on the job, from craftworkers to the president of the company.

Beware false sense of security

According to OSHA, four hazards are responsible for 90% of all construction sector fatalities: falls, struck by objects, electrocutions and caught in between (including being crushed by falling equipment or debris).

Fall protection is obviously overlooked on jobsites because it continues to be the leading cause of death in construction. In 2016, failure to comply with OSHA’s fall protection regulations exceeded all other violations cited by the agency. In addition to fatalities, people have been paralyzed as a result of falling from heights, experienced broken bones, head injuries, lacerations, contusions, etc. It is vital that fall hazards are eliminated immediately.

Be careful not to be lulled into a false sense of security, even if your safety rails are engineered to meet or exceed OSHA standards. There are injury risks of lacerations and other injuries associated with job-built wood railings, in part due to the number of people and tools involved in constructing them. A non-engineered system is only as good as the carpenter building it.

Nor is it easy to detect when an engineered-guard rail system might fail. While today there are construction-grade safety rail systems that reduce or eliminate safety risks, others have internal components that you can’t inspect with the naked eye, such as springs and threaded rods. Rust isn’t always visible. The meshing in lightweight systems is easily damaged, making it a protrusion hazard that can cause lacerations and penetrations. There’s also a tendency to cut corners when securing rail systems. I’ve seen systems that have 4-5 anchor holes but only two or three anchors are intact. People aren’t complying.

COVID-19 safety considerations   

For years, most proactive, industry-leading construction companies have required wearing safety glasses all the time while on a construction project. With the recent face-covering requirement due to COVID-19, an additional hazard has reared its ugly head: Our safety glasses are fogging up terribly, making it challenging to maneuver around the jobsite and to conduct our tasks.

This is causing aggravation all the way up and down, from the workers who are trying to get the job done, to the safety professionals who are trying to maintain company compliance, to the jobsite superintendents who are trying to enforce the rules and get the job done safely.

Your best recourse is not to skimp on safety glasses. Give your workers good glasses so they will wear them and stay protected. Look for glasses that have anti-fog technology embedded in the lenses, not just coated. The coating will be slowly wiped away with use, especially if alcohol wipes are used, and you’ll just have to keep handing out new safety glasses like they are candy.

Review perimeter jobsite security

Temporary perimeter fencing helps reduce the risk of serious injuries, as well as liability issues. Barrier fencing prevents vehicles, thieves and vandals from entering the jobsite. It keeps the public, including curious children, safely away from construction hazards such as trenches and excavations that could easily collapse, trapping them.

Unless your system is the newer maintenance-free variety, you should inspect it frequently. Traditional construction perimeter fencing systems are made of light gauge steel that requires continuous maintenance and is prone to breach and damage.

 

Safety is everyone’s No. 1 priority, but it’s not always easy. Educate yourself on the most frequently violated standards and most common jobsite dangers. Be current on laws, regulations, company policies and procedures, and construction best practices. Be proactive. Participate in annual National Safety Stand Down campaigns, OSHA Voluntary Protection Programs, AGC Chase programs and/or other OSHA consultation programs.

 

Deb Hilmerson is president/CEO of Hilmerson Safety. 

¹https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2491397/