Replies

1. 
   Gabe_Martel | Jul 11, 2000 07:30pm | #1

   *
   Hi Shaun,

   Safety programs are like charity, they start at home.

   The first step in any safety program that you may want to implement will be to ensure you provide the environment for safety. If they see you having a disregard for safety , the men will follow suit.

   Are all your step ladders,ladders, extension cords, ropes, scaffolds, bakers, safety lines etc. in top condition and industrial or are they flimsy and worn?

   Do you allow time for safety concerns to be expressed?

   Do you actively enforce safety codes, safety hats, safety boots, eye protection, ear protection etc.?

   Do you remind your men to work safe after every assignment meeting, in the morning?

   Do you ensure that the men have time to maintain a clean and safe site? No boards with nails or unprotected opennings in the floors.

   If you do all of the above, you will be safety responsible and your men will react favourably.

   Gabe

1. 
   Mike_Smith | Jul 12, 2000 03:01am | #2

   *gabe... good and concise...we live it.. but i never saw it written down so succinctly...

1. 
   Scrapr_ | Jul 12, 2000 03:11pm | #3

   *You might try talking with your workers comp carrier. Ours is very proactive. They come out at least 1x/year to talk safety. They have a drug program that we can tap in to, etc. My carrier e mailed some safety topics recently. Call them, they may have something all printed up. And Gabe is right about safety starting at the top. But it helps to have it in writing too.

1. 
   Andy_Engel_ | Jul 12, 2000 03:56pm | #4

   *You might contact the National Association of Homebuilders. They've published a safety manual in conjunction with OSHA which we excerpted in issue 130, April/May 2000. I think they have more extensive advice available, as well.Andy

1. 
   General_Manager_Shaun_McDermott | Jul 12, 2000 05:45pm | #5

   *Thanks, excellent advice --- exactly what I was looking for.

2. 
   GACC_DAllas | Jul 13, 2000 02:05am | #6

   *We take a very simple approch.Every once in a while I'll tell everybody "You be careful now OK?". They say OK, and there you go. They know that I won't ask them to do anything they are not comfortable with. Safty is something that is everybody's job. They don't want to put themselves in a situation where they get hurt any more than you do. But, accidents will happen.Ed. Williams

3. 
   Dave_Otto | Jul 19, 2000 04:03am | #7

   *Shaun, believe it or not, I actually went to school and got a Bachelors' degree in Safety Science. I did inspections for an insurance company for about three years, and decided it was time to return to construction. If you have a some free time (that's a big if), cozy up to the computer some time and check out http://www.osha.govThe construction industry has its' own set of standards (OSHA calls it Part 1926). Even more specific there is a manual that you can download entitled Selected Construction Regulations (SCOR) for the Home Building Industry. It deals with everything from Fall protection to scaffolding to personal protective equipement, etc. Employee training requirements are given for most topics (ladders, scaffold, fall protection etc). I don't know how in depth you're planning on making the program, but to get a flare for OSHA ease, check out the sample Fall protection plan (It's Subpart M of the section on Fall Protection). This will give you an idea of how safety guys write (might want to throw an extra scoop in that coffee). My best advice -- keep it simple. With five guys, safety discussions and training should be easy to conduct. Contacting your insurance agent is a good place to start. They may have a loss control guy who can come out, conduct training and inspections, and they may even help write your program. At the very least, they could evaluate it for you. If you have any questions pertaining to either the standards or your company's program, drop me an email, and I can try to help you out.Dave OttoOtto Construction

4. 
   james_randall | Aug 14, 2000 04:07am | #8

   *I USUALLY START SAFETY MEETINGS WITH A SIMPLE ADMONISHMENT . "EVERYTHING ON THIS SITE WILL KILL YOU, END OF MEETING!"BUT SERIOUSLY HERE UN TEXAS THE STATE HAS A COMMISION THAT OVERSEES WORKERS COMP AND WILL SEND REPRESENITIVES TO CONDUCT SAFTY MEETINGS AND PROVIDE INFORMATION ON WORKERS RIGHTS AND OTHER ISSUES

5. 
   james_randall | Aug 14, 2000 04:09am | #9

   *I USUALLY START SAFETY MEETINGS WITH A SIMPLE ADMONISHMENT . "EVERYTHING ON THIS SITE WILL KILL YOU, END OF MEETING!"BUT SERIOUSLY HERE IN TEXAS THE STATE HAS A COMMISION THAT OVERSEES WORKERS COMP AND WILL SEND REPRESENITIVES TO CONDUCT SAFTY MEETINGS AND PROVIDE INFORMATION ON WORKERS RIGHTS AND OTHER ISSUES

6. 
   Nathan_Kerr | Aug 19, 2000 05:36pm | #10

   *I am a superintendent for an "ENR 4EAR commercial contractor but my roots are in the residential field. The attitude displayed by Ed is one ad the reasons we have so many injuries in this profession. You can't tell someone to work safe. You have to teach them how to work in a safe manner. It does not come automatically. Accidents do not have to happen. It should be the goal of every person on the construction industry to never have another accident. We employ the services of a private safety counselling company that provides required(federal regulations) safety training as well as jobsite sajob sitespections. Im my expeIence, people have to be taught how to work safely and then it must be enforced from the top down. They have to learn that they are personally responsible for their own safety and that of those around them. Osha regulations (CFR 1926) CRe no distinction between residential and commercial construction safety. As a General Contractor you are required to train them. You should feel personally responsible for the safety of everyone on your site, including owners, inspectors, visitors, etc.The attitude that "accidents will happen" is illustrated by recent event near my hometown: A large, rhome town drywall contractor was finishing out the interior of a home. A taper was working on 3 lifts of scaffold when he stepped off and fell 15 feet onto his head. He required surgery and is still in ICU and is unlikely to survive. " Work safe today" didn't help him but a properly constructed scaffold with handrails or other fall protection would have. An extra 30 minutes of scaffold erection will end up costing this young man his life. The lawsuits and Osha violations will also most likely put this established contractor out of business. As the old adage says, "Safety Pays".We all know that productivity equals profit. Safe workers are more productive and more profitable. It's all up to you.

7. 
   Novy_7 | Aug 22, 2000 03:47am | #11

   *I usually start mine with "Nobody moves,nobody get's hurt"

8. 
   Jeff_J._Buck | Aug 22, 2000 06:48am | #12

   *Had a teacher back in trade school that was an ex-OSHA guy, and safety officer at a few larger commercial companys. He said the standard policy for a site visit was to ask to see the on-site safety manual. If there was one the amount of on site violations was magically cut in half, with time to fix some of the others. Same when somebody got hurt. Fines were reduced when an effort had been made. Sounds legit...don't know myself? I work alone for now, but with employees will come an on-site manual...and a list of sig.s saying they reviewed it. Can anyone expand on this? Jeff

2. 
   Shaun_McDermott | Aug 22, 2000 06:48am | #13

   *
   I want to organize and start a formal safety program for our renovation / remodeling company of five employees. Any hints, links? Thanks,

   Shaun