| General contractors manage a variety of important | | | | Given all the different positions workers needed to |
| considerations as they supervise a building's | | | | be to get the job done, in many situations the |
| construction, including budget, materials and schedule. | | | | standard harness didn't suffice. So they come up with |
| They also must ensure compliance with a wide range | | | | the retractable lanyard, one that creates an instant |
| of regulatory requirements, from environmental | | | | stop within two inches of the start of the fall, to |
| standards to legal employment practices. But by far | | | | respond to that need. This is one example of how |
| one of the most important concerns a general | | | | this industry works - OSHA changes a requirement, |
| contractor must control is safety.the federal | | | | manufacturers respond with new PPE and |
| government considers construction safety a highly | | | | contractors are expected to stay on top of this. |
| significant concern. Over the past few years, | | | | Inspections |
| incidents involving vehicles or equipment have been | | | | A Major component of a successful safety program |
| the primary source of construction workplace injuries | | | | is to self-inspect. safety representatives and |
| . Other hazards that result in job site injuries include | | | | Superintendents are on the job site several times a |
| electrical shock and caught-betweens as well as | | | | week, observing work processes, documenting |
| Falling and falling objects. | | | | procedural violations and potential hazards, and |
| The best approach to maintaining a safe job site is a | | | | implementing corrective actions. Often, these |
| good strategy of planning, training and inspections. | | | | inspections result in procedural changes that are |
| Planning: Stopping and preventing accidents | | | | incorporated into the daily pre-task planning. |
| Planning allows workers to avoid problems before | | | | |
| they occur. The crew should do a pre-task planning | | | | Benefits of Construction Safety Programimplementing |
| every day Before work starts and assess the | | | | the successful safety program requires a great deal |
| tasks to be performed .this helps identify hazards | | | | of work at all levels of the project and The results |
| and eliminate them or engineer them out. This | | | | are well worth the effort. |
| strategy takes place before the project starts and | | | | Our safety program gives us a big advantage in the |
| repeats every morning on the job site. because each | | | | marketplace and Our A+ rating with the insurance |
| job site presents its own spacial hazards, The | | | | companies reduces premiums considerably, allowing us |
| planning varies by location, but the general process of | | | | to be more competitive in our bids. They recognize |
| continues planning remains the same. | | | | that a safety-conscious general contractor reduces |
| On a strategic level, we have a formal safety plan. | | | | their potential liability for law suits. In addition, Our |
| this plan is thoroughly documented and available to | | | | safety program is a legitimate marketing advantage |
| everyone working on our projects. This ensures our | | | | that allows us to differentiate ourselves from our |
| operations stay within OSHA standards and we make | | | | competitors in the field of construction. |
| sure that everyone , from our employees to our | | | | Anther advantage of Our safety program is that we |
| subcontractors to our clients, knows our standards | | | | haven't suffered a time-lost incident in more than ten |
| and procedures in advance | | | | years. Also, Workers come to our job sites, trusting |
| Safety Training | | | | that we operate a safe work environment, and that |
| Training is the anther important component of the | | | | improves morale. We have a track record for safety, |
| successful safety plan. We do extensive training for | | | | which establishes an expectation in our workers' |
| our employs. All of our people on the job sit have | | | | minds that we won't tolerate anything less than safe |
| completed the OSHA 30-hour course, and have been | | | | work procedures. In that sense the program is |
| trained in first aid and emergency response | | | | self-perpetuating. Most importantly, on a moral level |
| One basic reason constant training is important is due | | | | we want our workers to be safe. We want them |
| to the constant evolving nature of personal | | | | going home in the same condition they came to |
| protective equipment (PPE). Manufacturers constantly | | | | work in. thus Our safety program provides cost |
| produce new or improved PPE in response to | | | | benefits, marketing advantages, operating and |
| identified needs in the marketplace and as a result | | | | efficiencies, and it is fundamentally the right thing to |
| of evolving OSHA standards, therefor contractors | | | | do. |
| must stay current on what is available. | | | | In time we have learned that the greatest |
| OSHA's requirements change frequently and | | | | challenge in maintaining a safe job site is attitude. |
| equipment makers constantly innovate to meet | | | | Getting people to recognize the inherent risk of |
| those revisions so PPE changes all the time -The PPE | | | | working on a construction site is a big part of what |
| that was totally compliant last year may not be | | | | we have to do every day, It's easy to cut corners |
| today. For example, a few years ago there was no | | | | on safety so we drill this attitude time and again . |
| such thing as retractable lanyards for fall protection. | | | | |