Construction Safety

Rx for Recordable Claims

2010-08-23T12:25:00.001-07:00

Over the years it has always been understood that the dispensing of a Rx medication for a work related injury results in a recordable incident. Or is it?

Recently, I read in a National Safety Council book that if a one time dose of Rx meds to ease pain or discomfort is given, it is not recordable. So which is it? I spoke with an OSHA Compliance Assistance Officer about this and his stance was that "If I felt it should be recordable, then record it". OSHA 300 and 300A logs are typically used for trending. While this is true, recording claims on a feeling opens a lot of issues.

Suppose I "feel" a claim or 10 claims are recordable, what does it do to the company Incident Rate and DART rate?

Back-Handed Compliment

2010-08-18T09:59:00.000-07:00

Is being to good at something, sometimes a bad thing? It seems as though the guy who is really good at what he does is always being stuck in the worst placers to fix someone elses mess. I guess it is a back handed compliment.

All the while, the guys who really mess things up are being put in positions to continue messing things up. Go figure!!

Such is the life of a Safety Professional

Working in Extreme Heat

2010-08-03T15:27:00.001-07:00

Why is it that construction workers, specifically Supervision, has the continual thought that they can make anyone do anything for production? When has it ever been safe to work in a heat index of 115 degrees? The last I heard, that was dangerous, yet people continue to let others do it. Why, because they had to when they were coming up.

So how do you stop it? We can't just turn on the air conditioning outside.

The quandry of construction...

2010-06-08T14:34:00.000-07:00

I hape spoken with alot of managers of other construction companies about their staffing now that we "are coming out of the recession". From what I understand, they are having a hard time getting employee to do heavy construction due to three things:
1) Alot of heavy construction is related to government buildings or facilitiesright now
2) When building government projects, contractors are required to enroll in E-Verify
3) Government projects require that workers complete a background check for crimes

The first two I am OK with, but the third seems strange. If a potential worker has a criminal background, they are not permitted to work on these projects? Who do you think makes up a great part of the construction industry? And I don't mean the Supervision or the higher-ups, I mean the guys actually doing the hard work. When these guys get out of jail, they do not expect to be hired on as a President of a company, and a lot wouldn't have that kind of education anyway. They just really want a job, and in most cases are required to have one. Wouldn't it be better to employ these folks, remember the saying about idle hands??

Full Body Harnesses and Tool Belts

2010-06-04T18:00:00.001-07:00

Many new style full body harnesses lend themselves to also being a tool belt. This, while in good theory, may be detrimental to the harness itself. I have noticed that in the construction industry, workers routinely carry up to 50 pounds of tools and equipment in their tool pouches, that are hanging on the body harness.

What concerns me is that this could be stressing the nylon fibers in the shoulder area due to the weight, not to mention the exposure to constant sunlight and the buildup of dirt and grime also contributing to the weakness.

I would appreciate any fall protection manufacturers or vendors that could supply inforamtion on this matter.

"Whistleblower"

2010-04-26T07:54:00.001-07:00

In the world of Safety Professionals, choices have to be made on a daily basis that could effect the outcome of your career. Especially if you work for a company that uses safety as window dressing.

Consider this; If you spot a severe safety violation, report it to the Supervisor and that person tells you to ignore it, what do you do? A) Ignore it and compromise your principles as a Safety Professional, or B) Keep dogging it until it gets fixed, jeopardizing your employment status.

Lets face it, most large companies have the ability to "Get the word out" about troublesome Safety Guys, causing you to potentially get blacklisted within your own industry. Most people try use the "Whistleblower" act as a crutch, but have you ever considered the consequences of that?? Now not are you only a nuisance, but your a tattle-taler of the highest level.

While its true that the DOL does give relief through "Whistleblower" protection, do you really want to be called a "Whistleblower"?

In the end, as Safety Professionals, we all have principles that we must abide to. If for no other reason, because there are a lot of families that depend on us to send their loved ones home every days. Just remember, people are not owned by companies, they are loaned out to us by their families, and those families expect that they will return in the same condition.

Safety Professionals, Real Need or Scapegoat?

2010-03-29T13:53:00.000-07:00

Before you think you have come to your own conclusion, give me a chance to explain. Over alot of years I have had the opportunity to work with several Safety Professionals. Some were really devoted to what they did, and some were forced into the position by others.

Obviously there is a need for Safety Professionals in the private sector, but what good are they doing for the companies they work for? Are they there to ensure that employees go home safely everyday, or are they there to take the fall if something goes wrong? Or, are they there for both?

I have known many that believed safety for their company, "was not important, until it was important". Management, according to these people only tolerated safety folks because their contract required it, but, atleast they had someone to place the blame on when things went south.

I have overheard some safety pros saying that they plead for management to help them accomplish a goal for their project, but get stonewalled because of money or some other excuse. Then an accident happens, that by the way could have been fixed with the original idea, and who gets blamed for it? You guessed it, the safety guy (or gal). Simply because it was under his job description to prevent it from happening.

So I ask again, are we in the times that private Safety Pros can actually exist because companies see the benefits, or because it is a requirement, thus having someone to blame for all safety problems??

The Only Thing Worth Dying For

2010-03-16T05:58:00.000-07:00

I just read this true story and found it both inspiring and disheartening. The basics of the story are this: A group of Green Berets infiltrated Southern Afganistan to help train Afganis to overthrow the Taliban. For several weeks, no one suffered a scratch through multiple battles. Then one day, the group was told the Battalion Command would be joining their group, which goes against all of their doctrine and training.

These guys were trained to call their own shots without much oversight. Basically trust was put into them that they would do the right thing. And they did. Eventually when Command arrived, they took over, as management usually does. Command called in an airstrike, with the wrong coordinates and the bomb landed in thier camp killing some of the same Green Berets that had not suffered a scratch so far.

So how does this fit in with Construction Safety, you might wonder? We train people to do the right thing and although they may need monitoring, we should let them do their thing, until they get ready to screw it up. Who knows better how to do a job than the guy doing it? Sure we can suggest a safer way from time to time. Management shouldn't micro-manage, they should let the boots on the ground do their job, whether its a Superintendent, Labor, Safety Pro or a Green Beret. Its what they get paid for. Management should be there for support when it is needed, not to take over.

I have heard on several occasions a Superintendent tell Management, " If you want to run the job, then run it and I'll sit back and watch. Otherwise let me do my job". Does this really need to be stated?

Work safe, work smart and trust your training. Do what you know is right and things will be alright.

Safety Booklets

2010-02-15T07:09:00.000-08:00

Ever tried to put together 10 and 30 hour class books, and felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume? The last ones I put together had about 500 pages each. I felt like I was actually trying to over teach some things. Well I found some relatively lightweight booklets you can use for this process. Keep in mind that they are mainly from Oregon OSHA, but the information is essentially the same. Good luck!!

http://www.cbs.state.or.us/external/osha/educate/training/pages/materials.html

Free Training Site

2010-01-22T05:56:00.000-08:00

All Safety Professionals either need some training or want some more training. Unfortunately, we either can't always afford the cost, or we can't get enough time away from work to attend it. So what do we do?

I have found a site that has a good deal of Safety, HR, and Environmental training. The classes are pretty well set up, although the safety classes are pretty basic. They are computer interactive and each one takes about 1.5 hours to complete. Once your done, you can print off a course completion certificate. Take a look for yourself at:

http://www.globaltrainingpeople.com/join_free_training.aspx

Construction Terminology

2009-12-29T13:25:00.001-08:00

There are alot of times when I just don't know what the Superintendent is talking about. I'm a safety guy, not a production guy. Sometimes I feel foolish when I have to ask "What is that thing called?" I know it can be dangerous, but I don't know what it is.

If you have ever been there, don't feel so bad, we all do it from time to time. I have included a site where you can brush up on your construction terminology and suprise those production guys one day.

http://www.alphadictionary.com/directory/Specialty_Dictionaries/Construction/

Responding to an OSHA Inspection

2009-12-22T11:30:00.000-08:00

Dealing with an OSHA inspection should be a piece of cake, right? Well, if your doing all the things you should be, you shouldn't have any problems, should you? Unfortunately it's not always that easy. The common perception is that "I just can't stop everything" or " It doesn't matter how proactive we are, OSHA will always find something". While that may be true, we still have to try.

In the event that you do have an inspection, what can you do? Employers have certain rights, but don't get to overly proud. Remember they are a Federal Government Agency. Read the following sites to get ahead of the game.

http://gallaghermalpractice.com/articles/documents/Responding-to-an-OSHA-Inspection-1.pdf
http://gallaghermalpractice.com/articles/documents/Responding-to-an-OSHA-Inspection-3.pdf

Keeping Up With OSHA

2009-12-22T07:32:00.000-08:00

Sometimes this can be a hard thing to do. Although regulations are not approved easily and we are usually aware when this happens, we cannot keep up so easy with the other things the OSHA is doing. Were you aware of the FEDTARG 2009 program or the fact that OSHA updated the steel erection standard to improve fall protection? Don't feel bad, neither was I.

Like I said, unless you have the time to comb through the internet, or know exactly where to look to find these things, you may well be working in the blind. I found a pretty good site that does this work for you. It has a very well thought out platform, give it a shot.

http://www.oshaobserver.com/

Teaching a Class

2009-12-04T09:12:00.000-08:00

If part of your job is to teach, there are several things you have to know. Really, how do adults learn? Through lecture, visual aids, hands on, or a combination of all. How do we deal with difficult learners?

These are questions that must be answered before we start teaching. In the hopes of helping, attached is a link to help you better your teaching presentation. Good luck!

http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/teachtip.htm#motivating

The Safety Repository

2009-11-06T11:50:00.001-08:00

Ever wish you could find a web-site that just had everything? (other than this one). Well I have found somethng like it.

Its really a Safety Related Respository, and it has

PDF Files
PPT Files MP3 Files
Word Files
Video Files
Excel Files
Safety Photos

all regarding safety of one sort or another. Check it out, and download as much as your computer can hold because its all free.

http://www.usmra.com/repository/

What Did He Say?

2009-10-29T14:23:00.001-07:00

If you work in construction, this is spoken almost all day. Why? There are alot of Latino construction workers out there. (This isn't the forum for your ranting about immigration, so save it) The fact of the matter is most Latinos can't or won't speak English, and most Americans can't or won't speak Spanish. So where does that leave us? If your in the safety profession, it leaves you in a potentially serious predicament.

Most of us pick up on some Spanish from being around the guys, unless your one of those safety guys that sit around in an office all day. But, in the event of an emergency, that little bit you picked up just won't cut it. Or if your trying to explain something, it can get seriously aggravating for both parties.

In an effort to help out, I have posted a link that will atleast get you buy until you can learn the verbage, and who knows over time you may not need it anymore. This link has English to Spanish, and Spanish to English dictionaries for OSHA terms, General Industry terms, and Construction terms.

So good luck and adios (thats goodbye, I think)

http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/compliance_assistance/spanish_dictionaries.html

New OSHA Mandates

2009-10-19T14:48:00.000-07:00

Just got finished with the OSHA 502 update. Wow, is all that I can say. If Obama follows through on his promise to strengthen OSHA, Safety Professionals should be in business for a while.

Some of the things that were touched on:

OSHA will be putting something like 130 new Compliance Officers out in the work place. But not only that, they will also be getting away from compliance assistance programs and leaning more towards enforcement.
Penalties will be going up, and when I say up, I mean really high.
Check out the new NEP on recordkeeping. All I can say is that you might want to hire someone just to keep accurate records.
OTI's will be looking for you to let them know when you are teaching a class. You will be put on a schedule that OSHA can call for at any time. Why? They may come and audit your training. If its a 10 hour, teach for 10 hours. If its a 30 hour, teach for 30 hours. Forget the breaks and lunches. This is compliments of those "unsavory" characters who got busted cheating the system for dough.
The new crane standard has passed. N.C. is already enforcing their own version, but expect the Fed OSHA to begin enforcing around this time next year. Ya might want to read it, its intense.
OSHA is leaning towards putting expiration dates on training cards, something like 5 years. Which helps us because somebody has to do the training.

I'll post more when I have all the info downloaded in my brain, there is so much to think about.

Specimen Drawing Certification

2009-10-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

One of the things I have learned along the way is that drug testing can be expensive. So how do we cut some costs in the economic times? One of the things we can do is eliminate the draw fee charged by the clinic, by doing it ourselves. But hold you horses, this can be a very sensitive issue.

Drawing specimens must be completed methodically, and by a qualified person. I have completed the "Specimen Collector" training at the Quest website and found it to be very educational and it helps with cost cutting. A side benefit is that you can draw specimens at any time, especially helpful when the clinic is closed and you just don't want to wait at the E.R. for a drug test. This course takes about two hours but is very helpful with knowing what to do and how to complete the paperwork properly.

Attached is the link. Click on the link and hover your cursor above the "Drug & Alcohol Testing" tab. Move the cursor down to "Training" and then over to "Specimen collection Certification". This will bring you to the right page.

http://www.questdiagnostics.com/employersolutions/drug_and_alcohol_es.html

Safety Calculators

2009-10-08T07:35:00.000-07:00

Going through the NSC Fundamentals of Hygiene class taught me one thing, I am not as good in math as I thought. With so many calculationsto remember, it would be nice to have some easier ways of computing for results.

Well, I found some. Good Job to the WorkSafe BC guys and gals again for producing a tool that works.

http://www2.worksafebc.com/sc/tours/default.htm
http://www2.worksafebc.com/calculator/llc/default.htm
http://www2.worksafebc.com/ppcc/default.htm

WorkSafe BC Videos

2009-10-07T06:07:00.000-07:00

While trolling around the world wide web for safety items, I came across the WorkSafe BC site. I have to say that I am very impressed. There was lots of information on construction safety. But they even had just the thing I have been looking for, downloadable videos. And trust me they are pretty good.

I use the videos during training sessions not only to break up the monotony, but to add a little impact to the sessions. I am pleased to bring you the site, so that you can do the same.

Work Safe, Work Smart!!

http://www2.worksafebc.com/Publications/Multimedia/Videos.asp?ReportID=35143

Time to Vent

2009-10-06T05:35:00.000-07:00

OK! Now I have heard it all. I was recently in a conversation with another "Safety Professional", when he stated that you really could not hold that title unless you were a Board Certified CSP. Ahh, What?

I completely disagreed with that statement. Now don't get me wrong, having your CSP is probably a good thing, but does it mean that you are the best? I afraid not. All that it indicates is that a specific group of people deemed you appropriate enough to hand you a certificate and a title. Whoa, says the CSP's, its not quite that easy. CSP's have to meet certain guidelines and requirements, and then pass this unbelievable test.

True, but does that mean that they are better than, say, me? I had the fortunate ability to pass one of the five hardest standardized tests in the country (National Registry Paramedic Exam), recieved my degree in Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine and have over 500 hours of training through my local OTI. I have several certificates from NSC, NASP, and FEMA. All in all, I consider myself to be a knowledgible and well rounded Safety Professional. But am I a CSP, no. So does that make the CSP better than me? I doubt it.

In another life I worked in public safety, when one day an mandate was passed down that everyone had three years to complete an Associate Degree program or risk losing their job. The degree could be in anything, even basket weaving (if they had it). The issue at hand was that there were alot of guys that worked with me, that had been on the job saving lives for the better part of 25 years. What more are these people going to learn in a school setting that they haven't learned in 25 years?

Really all I am saying is, if your a CSP, great, but don't look down on those of us who choose not to attempt that dubious distinction. There are alot of very educated people out there that can complete a job just as well as the next person, CSP or not. Speak with them, listen to what they have to say, and you may be suprised just how over-rated some designations can be.

Operational Risk Management

2009-10-05T08:18:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm not very fond of government spending our money on just anything, but with a daughter and son-in-law in the Navy, I am glad to see that the Navy has an Occupational Safety and Health Department. Keeping our people safe from themselves is sometimes as important as keeping them safe from the enemy.

As I was scoping the Navy OSH website I came across something helpful; a risk matrix, and a 5-step process for identfying risk. And its all on a wallet card!! The risk matrix is helpful when you have those employees who just don't agree that something is dangerous. You just pull it out and ask what the probability of something happening is, and then if it does happen what would be the severity. Then presto, you have how dangerous it really is. After thisis identified, use the other card to assess what you must do to fix it. Congrats to the Navy for coming up with a great idea!!

http://safecen.navy.mil/orm/generalorm/businesscards.htm

AWAIR Program

2009-10-01T06:41:00.000-07:00

Lots of companies including my own, have very good Safety Policies and Manuals in place. Usually they somewhat mirror the OSHA standards, with the exception of your Site Specific Safety Program. But the thing is, employees know what the rules are, but why would they want to follow them? For their own safety? The safety of their co-workers?

These are some good reasons, but let me challenge you with this. Employees will do what is right when they understand their roles and are forced to accept their responsibilities. This is basically holding people accountable for their actions. Is this a bad thing? Not always. People can also be held accountable for the good things they do.

The state of Minnesota has amended their OSHA act to require employers to develop a written "A Workplace Accident and Injury Reduction (AWAIR)" program. It is not so much a policy on the safety standards, as much as it explains every levels responsibility as it pertains to safety. Like I stated before, once people know their roles, they can be held accountable for their actions.

I have attached a link for your review, that will assist you in developing your own AWAIR program. I have used it to great success, hopefully you will to.

http://www.wnins.com/losscontrol/AWAIR.pdf

Help for the new Safety Guy

2009-09-29T06:06:00.003-07:00

Not everyone, including myself, graduated from college with a degree in Occupational Safety and Health. And not everyone is a CSP. So where does the New Guy fit in? You know the guy, the one who has worked for the company for a while, safely, and some genius thought he would make a great safety guy. He has the experience and some education, plus a few safety courses through out his career.

So where does this guy get the information to start his program? There are so many websites available (lots are listed on this blog) that can help. I have came across one that is pretty good for beginning safety personnell. Its actually titled "Workplace Safety Kit". It has a wealth of information to get the new guy started, especially in learning the management fundamentals. And best of all, the information is free!! Click link below

http://www.nonprofitrisk.org/tools/workplace-safety/nonprofit/wsp.htm

Big Trucks and Safety

2009-09-25T09:14:00.000-07:00

If you manage the safety for a company with tractor-trailers (Big Trucks), there are alot of things to know. Trying to keep up with them is like trying to memorize the OSHA standards, impossible unless you have a photographic memory. Fortunately, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA) has a website similiar to the OSHA site.

It discusses everyting from Safety & Security to Rules and Regulations for Big Trucks. There's even an area for outreach and education. So if you are managing this type of fleet, or might in the near future, give the site a good look. You probably don't want to get your fleet in trouble with the LAW!!

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/

Contesting Citations & Review Commission

2009-09-23T05:35:00.000-07:00

It is of my personal opinion that no one should receive a citation. We know the rules, there even in a book for goodness sake. But, Murphy's law seems to be in effect all of the time and "things happen", right? Well every one should know that you have 15 days to contest a citation. You have the right to request an informal conference, where you can "explain".

But sometimes OSHA just doesn't understand what your saying, and you honestly believe you are not in the wrong. So you stand your ground. Well what happens after that? Usually the case is going to the OSH Review Commission. I personally have never been to this stage, usually I am able to resolve the situation at the informal conference. Fo those of you that would like to see more about how the Review Commission works, see the link below.

http://www.oshrc.gov/

Twitter for Family Emergencies

2009-09-21T06:46:00.000-07:00

Let me preface this by saying that it may not work on your wireless plan. So how does my family do it? We all have a Verizon Unlimited Text account. My wife, daughters, and I, all follow each other using this. When there is an emergency, one sends out the tweet, and all the rest recieve at the same time. This helps eliminate time in attempting to call people one by one.

Imagine that in the time of a local emergency, one could send out a tweet to the whole family to meet at a certain location, or if something happened at your kids school and they don't have time to call Mom and Dad.

Make Twitter work for you, not just for fun.

Occupational Exposure to Lead

2009-09-17T11:25:00.001-07:00

I really do not have a lot of experience in this field, as we never work with it. Although once we worked on a project thats foundation was excavated in a former steel mill. We actually had to complete the mandatory Lead testing.

So with that said, I have attached a link I used to kind of educate myself on the topic. It has powerpoint presentations for

1. Sources and exposures
2. Hazards and Health effects
3. Assessment and Monitoring
4. Engineering and Work practice controls
5. PPE

Good Luck!!

http://www.buildsafe.org/resource/Lead/lead.htm

Exploiting Needs

2009-09-16T09:02:00.000-07:00

One basic tenet of being a great Safety Professional is teaching a person about safety, and then getting a complete and total buy in. Wow, thats a bold statement considering how hard that can be sometimes. Humans are creatures of habit, not change. Change from what we consider the norm can be scary when you do not know the outcome. So how do we affect change?

Well one way is kind of sneaky, and psychological. It is to exploit the basic needs of every human. Many moons ago, Abraham Maslow, developed a hierarchy of five levels of basic needs.

1. Physiological Needs
2. Safety Needs
3. Needs of Love, Affection and Belongingness
4. Need for Esteem
5. Needs for Self-Actualization

If we understand those needs and can use them to our advantage when teaching, the point of the instruction will become personal. Take the Need for Esteem: When the first three classes of needs are satisfied, the needs for esteem can become dominant. These involve needs for both self-esteem and for the esteem a person gets from others. Humans have a need for a stable, firmly based, high level of self-respect, and respect from others. When these needs are satisfied, the person feels self-confident and valuable as a person in the world. When these needs are frustrated, the person feels inferior, weak, helpless and worthless.

How can you exploit this need to get your safety message across? I look forward to comments.

Reasonable Suspicion vs. Medical Problem

2009-09-15T06:20:00.001-07:00

Be careful when you suspect some one of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs at work. While there are those who are legitimately out of their mind for showing up to work under the influence, there are those that give this appearance from an underlying medical problem.

Alot of employees are ashamed of medical problems, or feel that if they acknowledge them they may not get the job, so they keep them hidden. This can present a serious problem.

Take for instance a diabetic. These individuals can suffer from a problem called Diabetic Keto-Acidosis. They may seem to the lay-man to be intoxicated by showing the same symptoms of which include altered mental status, uneven walking gait, and a fruity wine cooler smelling breath. Attempting to get these employees to submit to a reasonable suspicion drug test is only prolonging much needed medical treatment.

On top of this, there are underlying legal issues when you accuse someone of being intoxicated. Make sure to get your HR department involved from the start. Have a plan in place and work the plan.

Emergency Plans

2009-09-15T05:55:00.001-07:00

More times than not, when we are issued contracts for new projects, we have to prepare an Emergency Plan. Typically we use the same format for every one. But what happens when we leave something out? There is a scramble on the site to find the right information.

This means that we have not completed our job to the best of our ability. As Safety Professionals we are tasked with the responsibility to make sure that all sites know exactly what to do in the event of of an emergency. Part of your plan shold actually be training employees on how to react. Who communicates with the media? Who calls 911? What is your continuity plan if you live in a hurricane region? The other part of the plan is to get the employees exactly the information they so there is no delay. The attached link has a fillable form that asks all the pertinent questions for emergency prepardness. You just fill in the blanks, print it and review it with your site employees. It can't get much easier!!

http://www.ready.gov/business/publications/index.html

Who should Safety report to?

2009-09-14T07:44:00.000-07:00

This has been a very heated topic in several other threads I am part of. And I can understand why. The Production Supervisor says they should report to him, and the Safety Guy says that he should report to the President.

My opinion is this, the Safety Professional has the responsibility to keep all workers safe, this includes from the lowest guy to the President. Unfortunately, when he reports to the Production Supervisor, things can get a little dicey. What happens when the Production Supervisor is rewarded for great work in the form of a bonus, and the Safety Pro interrupts that for a safety problem? I know what your thinking, safety is everyones responsibility, right? Well that isn't always the case, especially with those individuals who think in the past tense.

The Safety Pro must be able to act without fear of repercussion when it involves the safety of any individual, and it helps to have the backing of up high. This is not to say that the Safety Pro sits in the Ivory Tower, but he must be in the middle of the action when he or she makes a command decision to stop production. Thats what the Safety Pro is there for, right? 'Cause believe me cousin, when an employee gets hurt and the proverbial crap hits the fan, who gets called to the carpet? In the event of a fatality, who gets called in front of the Judge, because it will happen. I would hate it if the Safety Pro had to appear in a court and make the following statement, " Your Honor, I advised the Supervisor to cease the operation because I felt that it endangered the employee and was ignored".

Most times it pays to listen to your Safety Pro, especially if he is backed up by management.

OTI Trainer Guidelines

2009-09-11T07:12:00.000-07:00

For those Safety Professionals who are OTI trainers, OSHA issued a new set of training guidelines in February of this year. They are pretty strict and require to sign a confirmation section. Failure to follow these rules can result in criminal penalties against the trainer.

I believe OSHA is starting to come down hard on those giving out cards just to make a dime. I have read articles where trainers teach 5 hours for a 10 hour class, and 10 hours for a 30 hour class. Are you kidding me?? They honestly thought they were going to get away with it?

Well now things should be on the up and up, atleast I hope. Attached is the new Training guidelines straight from the OSHA website.

http://www.osha.gov/dte/outreach/construction_generalindustry/construction.html#records_retain

EH&S Jobs

2009-09-10T06:09:00.000-07:00

In these turbulent times, there are those who are out of work and searching high and low for jobs. All I can really say is keep your head up, things will work out soon. With the economy the way it is, companies are looking at ways to reduce outgoing money, and that benefits Safety Professionals how? Well we have the ability (maybe) to affect change and reduce the number of accidents and injuries which lead to less in insurance premiums and actual out of pocket expenses for companies sending employees to the doctor.

In the event that you are looking for employment and you are a Safety Professional, try the link below. You will have to go through the trouble of registering, but if your really needing a job you'll take the time.

http://www.ehscareers.com/

New rule about providing PPE

2009-09-09T11:35:00.001-07:00

Well, OSHA has finally did it. The new rule about companies providing employees their PPE has been established. Unfortunately it only affects General Industry, Shipyards, Longshoring and marine terminals. Basically it states that if the employee has to wear it (remember the Gen Duty Clause) then the company has to pay for it.

But do we have to pay for each and every time? Suppose an employee is issued a pair of safety glasses and then loses them, does the company have to re-issue at its cost? Or if an employee just plainly abuses gloves and needs a new pair every day. Can the company charge the employee for replacement? What do you think? See the Federal Registry ruling below.

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-21360.htm

Hygiene, Is it a safety issue?

2009-09-09T06:50:00.000-07:00

For most construction Safety Professionals like myself, the only hygiene issues we have to worry about is the hand washing station, right? Well, not exactly. After taking the Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene class with the National Safety Council, I learned there is a lot more than I thought. This includes respiratory, hearing, ergonomics, and so much more. It was not an easy class to take.

Fortunately for me, I have a back ground in emergency medicine, so the anatomy, physiology and pathology portion wasn't to difficult. This class taught different ways for sampling methods and what PEL's and TWA's really meant. For most people, when you see the NRR (Noise Reduction Rate) on a box of ear plugs, you think that this reduces the decibels by that much. Not so fast my friend, that number only plays into a calculation.

Below is a link to a safety and hygiene website that will introduce you to some of these items, but I strongly encourage all Safety Professionals to take the FIH class with the NSC.

https://www.ohiobwc.com/employer/programs/safety/SandHCourseManualsMaterials.asp#aa

Thanks All

2009-09-08T13:51:00.000-07:00

I hope that this blog is helping everyone that visits in some way or another. I see each day that I have alot of new visitors, but never any comments. Let me know what you guys and gals are looking for, I'll do the research for you. I have seen quite a few hits from the UK and Australia, but not much anywhere else other than the US. If your out there, reach out and comment.

Tip for getting your message across

2009-09-08T08:48:00.001-07:00

One way to get everyone, from the top guy to the bottom guy, involved in safety 100% is to eliminate the words "I", "me", and "you" from their vocabulary. Challenge everyone in the meeting to substitute those words for "we" and "us". It will seem difficult at first, because all will assume some sort of responsibility for the actions discussed whether they want to or not.

Newsletters & Certificates For Safety

2009-09-08T06:42:00.000-07:00

One of the things I have found most helpful for getting out items of importance for safety is thru the use of a newsletter. And believe it or not, the guys actually read them, some even use them for their tool box safety meetings. They can be inclusive of whatever information you would like to add. Try this link below.

Every Safety Professional is proud of the certificates they earn after taking an intensive class. So are your guys any different? When was the last time you issued a nice certificate after teaching a forklift class? You probably did the same as I, and just gave them an operators card. Most people like to be recognized for an accomplishment, but you really don't want to spend the money or really just don't have the money to spend on certificates. So use the program below and print them off on some colored paper. Just remember, the act of recognizing someone is the key.

http://www.myawardmaker.com/templates.html

Safety Professionals Responsibility

2009-09-03T14:09:00.000-07:00

Safety is not important, until its important, right?

Your Safety Professional is not generating any money towards your project, and is therefore a necessary evil. They just walk around all day with a clipboard and watch other people work. You only have safety team members onsite because it was required in your contract. If you had to work the way they say, you'd never get anything done. The safety guy is just some snot-nosed kid who just got out of college, and has no field experience, so what doe's he know? Safety guys are just police officers who write tickets.

Unfortunately, I have heard all these exclamations before, and sometimes out of the higher ups. What does this do to the morale of your safety team? Safety Professionals should have no fear of doing the right thing. When I first got into safety, one of our experienced guys told me that I would never be the most popular person, and I should never try to be friends with the workers. To a degree, he was right. Part of my job was to stop people from doing things that may get them hurt, in other words doing something wrong. No one likes to be told they are wrong.

Although, through time and patience, the guys in the field learned to trust me. Even though they may not like me personally, they began to understand that what I did was for their benefit. There was no way I was going to tell them how to do their job, but I could show them how to do it safely, with their input. Building this trust is instrumental.

It is our responsibility, as Safety Professionals, to the companies we work for, as well as the employees themselves, to send them home to the families they provide for the same way they came to work for us. Anything less is a failure on our part.

I have investigated only one fatality in my years, and the hardest part was to look into the eyes of the family and know that they had been let down. They sent their loved one to work, but never to return. At that moment, I made this promise to myself: It will not happen on my watch.

Thanks for the Recognition

2009-09-03T11:17:00.000-07:00

I have been asked to write an article for the "Site Prep" website. It is nice to see that people respect your work and thoughts, from time to time. Hopefully I will do the article justice. I will let everyone know when it may be published.

Mandatory OSHA 10 Hour for Construction

2009-09-03T05:56:00.000-07:00

I just read an article stating that there are currently 7 seven states that require all construction workers to receive mandatory OSHA 10 hour training prior to going to work. I wonder if this will become a requirement for every state. It seems as though it should, but...

The thought process is, the more workers understand the regulations, the number of injuries and fatalities will decrease. But is that true? Just because I know the speed limit, doesn't mean I won't speed. Right? Maybe this is the beginning of a good idea but it shouldn't stop there. We should also be teaching these employees how to recognize the dangers of what they are doing, corrective actions, and the results of doing it unsafely.

One of the states requiring this is New York. Wasn't this the same state that had some problems with giving out OTI cards without proper training? If more and more states begin to require this, one of two things will have to happen, 1) the number of OTI trainers will go through the roof, or 2) the current OTI trainers will be exhausted from all the training needing to be done.

Some companies will have to hire a person just for that task. To fly around the country and just complete training courses.

Safety Related Photos

2009-09-02T12:42:00.000-07:00

When your building a PPT training program, it is often useful to have some pictures. And not just cartoons, but interesting photos that apply to what you are teaching.

The site below was suggested by a fellow Tweeter for just that purpose. Just remember, keep it fun, keep it interesting, but be sure to keep it real.

http://www.safetyphoto.co.uk/photo1/photo_1.htm

Crane Safety

2009-09-02T07:39:00.000-07:00

It seems as though everytime you watch the news, there is some type of crane accident. Sometimes they are small, but sometimes they are very large and cause massive damage including death. So what are the main causes of crane accidents? Well that answer would vary alot. Some say operator failure, some say equipment failure.

There is an answer to solving both: 1) inspect your equipment daily, 2) make sure the operator is qualified. I am sure you all know that OSHA has had existing regulations for both, but now the CDAC should be coming through soon. this will change a lot of things. In order to solve both of your problems, see the attached link. Good luck!

http://www.cicb.com/

Where can I find the 1st Report of Injury?

2009-08-31T09:23:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, with all the exhausting work Safety Professionals do to prevent accidents and injuries, it never fails that Murphys Law takes effect. Someone is bound to get banged up somewhere and have to visit the ole' Doc.

Not only is it probably part of your safety policy to fill out an internal accident report, but most state Work Comp. laws require you to complete a "First Report of Injury". But where exactly do you get them? As spread out as my own company is, there are a lot of states to try and keep up with. Which by the way, do you know the Statutes and Rules for WC in your state? No one can remember everything, unless your one of those few in a million who remember everything. I'm not one of those, so I keep a site stored on my favorites where I can get to them quickly.

Click on the link below to find Workers Comp Research Tools. Good Luck!

http://www.workerscompensation.com/workers_compensation_for_employers.php

Boy its hot out here..

2009-08-27T09:47:00.000-07:00

When employees who normally work outside say this, its time to take notice. Usually, employees who routinely work outside are acclimitized to this environment. But new employees may not necessarily be.

Our bodies are wonderful machines that, given the right maintenance, will attempt to correct dangers. Sweating is the biggest thing a body can do to cool itself off. I normally carry around a small gadget that will give me a few atmospheric readings (Keller Anemometer). But what is more dangerous, the ambient tempature or heat index? I think its the heat index. If you have ever worked in the south, you know that humidity is terrible. In any case I added a link to where you can scale the heat index without a gadget. All you need is the tempature and humidity levels.

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ssd/html/heatwv.htm

Completing a Task Analysis

2009-08-26T11:04:00.000-07:00

Depending on where your from, it may be called a JSA, JHA, PTP or a multitude of other things. Put simply, it is a beakdown of a specific task in sections to identify hazards and corrective actions.

There are several charts (3 column, 4 column) that you can use depending on how much info you want to include. Sometimes a GC will ask for an overall analysis based on your scope of work. I found a site that will give you alot of that info, and you can even zero in on your specific industry (construction) or a specific task. It really is incredible, I love it.

http://www.cpwrconstructionsolutions.org/

Incident Rates..Good News or Bad?

2009-08-26T07:07:00.000-07:00

One of the things we as Safety Professionals use to gauge our work is our own incident rates. The formula is not that hard to figure out, but once you get the number, how do you know how well you are doing?

The best way is to compare it to other companies in the same type business. Trying to find information on a specific competitor can be a difficult thing, but comparing it within your industry is relatively easy. (see below)

Keeping a low incident rate is not only important to the safety of our employees, but it also helps alot in the bidding process. When a GC is contemplating on who they want to isssue work out to, they look at lots of numbers, including the incident rate. Why hire a company who has a terrible IR that reflects a terrible safety program, putting the project in a bad media spotlight??

http://irmaassociates.com/resources/incidenceratecalculator.aspx

Hearing Conservation

2009-08-25T08:02:00.000-07:00

What? What? Speak up.

If you have heard this at work, it may be time to evaluate your hearing cnservation program. There are some specific rules on when and where you must implement this program. Hearing is one of the things we take for granted, until we lose it.

Hearing protection can be a complicated thing. Did you know that the NRR (noise reduction rate) on the hearing PPE does not mean the noise is reduced by that number of decibels? It figures into a fairly complicated formula. If you need to more information on hearing conservation, try the program below, or complete the assessment to see if you need a program at all.

http://risk.byu.edu/safety/safety_programs/HearingConservation.php
http://risk.az.gov/UserFiles/PDF/checklists/Hearing%20Conservation%20Checklist.pdf

CERT: Community Emergency Response Teams

2009-08-25T07:33:00.000-07:00

How do we respond to an emergency? Typically by dialing 911, right? Well, what if your emergency services are overwhelmed during a natural disaster, catastrophe, or terrorism?

FEMA has recognized a program called "CERT: Community Emergency Response Teams". These teams are in place all over the country and are comprised of everyday people like you and me. They are not first responders, but are used to supplement emergency services. As a former Paramedic, I sure could have used some help from time to time. If you are working on a very large construction project, this may be a good idea for you.

https://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/

Scaffold Safety

2009-08-25T06:47:00.000-07:00

Where in the world would we be without scaffolds? Maybe still in single level buildings?? I read somewhere that scaffolds of some type have been in existance for thousands of years. If not, how were the pyramids and other wonders of the world built?

Humans have a unique way of coming up with ways to get things done, but not so much how to do it safely. I am pretty sure in ancient Egypt, there was not a Safety Guy walking around making sure the slaves had the right PPE on and inspecting scaffolds. But as we became more intelligent (and some say legal minded), we understood that there are dangers in constructing scaffolds. In an effort to help reduce the number of scaffold incidents, it is prudent to click on the link below and make sure your building it right. And remember, it is a requirement to train your people on scaffolds before you put them on it. I almost forgot, check your local regulations and see if you fall in a federal or state run program to see the exact rules.

http://www.ehs.okstate.edu/links/scaffold.htm

Motorcycle Safety

2009-08-25T06:20:00.000-07:00

I know your asking yourself, I thought this blog was about "Construction Safety". Well it is, but I have been asked to speak on this topic, and when you really think about it, there are alot of burly construction workers who ride their hog to work everyday.

So how dangerous is riding a motorcycle? Depends on the rider and their experience. I have know riders who have never had an incident on their bike, but I have also known riders who have been paralyzed from accidents. The point is this, we all need to start somewhere when riding a bike. I started on a dirt-bike out in the country where I had some laydowns, but it was in grassy fields where it was ok. I learned from my mistakes. I often see the hard-core riders up and down the interstate without helmets and wonder, Do they really think its that cool not to wear a helmet? Or is it cooler even more to be laying in an ER with a busted head? Why do some states require helmets, and some not? Are their citizens immune to accidents? What are the political bodies thinking?

So to give a hand in explaining why safety is important I have attached the link below for new riders to learn from and experienced riders to maybe refresh themselves. In the end reading can help, but riding safely and alert is the most important thing of all.

http://www.msgroup.org/articles.aspx

Hazards of Silica

2009-08-24T07:05:00.000-07:00

One of the most dangerous things about working with concrete (and other associated materials) is Silica. It is so dangerous, that OSHA has a special program in place just for it.

How do you protect against it, who do you protect, and when is it time to put protection in place? Most folks from "the old school" say when you can't see the guy working in it, its time to put protection in place. BAD IDEA!!

You see the thing about Silica is that it really is nothing more than very tiny pieces of glass. When this gets into the lungs it just causes so much damage. Then the lung scars over the damage, impairing its ability to function properly. And to top all, there is no cure for it!! So when do you protect? I say immediately. Now there is a PEL and TWA for it, but do you really want to cut corners and wait until you must do something? Well they're your employees and you have a responsibility not only to them, but to their families, to do the right thing.

http://www.oshainfo.gatech.edu/silica-matrix.pdf

Fall Protection

2009-08-21T06:42:00.000-07:00

What is cause of most fatalities in the construction industry? Well, if you have been around long enough as a Safety Professional, you'll know. If not, look at the title of the blog.

Falls to the same or lower levels, from scaffolds, into excavations, as well as, slips and trips, can be avoided with the right preparation and training. Is your training up to speed? Do you just review it in a tool box safety meeting? OSHA has very specific regualtions on how fall protection training must be completed. And not only that, but it also has requirements on documentation of the class.

Most of the classes I teach are three phases: 1) General rule review, 2) Hands on instruction, and 3) watching of fall specific video.

So where are the videos? Well, you can spend an incredible amount of money buying one (or multiple if you have several languages to span) or you can use the link below. It has videos in English, Spanish and French. (French??)

http://www.millerfallprotection.com/fall-protection-products/videos/videos

Gator Safety

2009-08-19T10:56:00.000-07:00

I know what your thinking. Alligators, Florida Gators? Of course not, you just avoid those. I am speaking of the Gators we drive around on the jobsite. You know those nifty little buggies that can go through anything, well almost anything.

There are currently no OSHA regulations directly regarding these machines, but keep in mind that you could get caught in the "General Duty Clause", if you haven't set up your program right. So what is setting it up right? How about training the operator and completing inspections? Well if you don't have the information to get this accomplished, I have provided you (as always) with a link to the information. So good luck, and go Gators (get for real, I am not talking about Florida).

https://www.amherst.edu/offices/enviro_health_safety/polpro/johndeere_gators/node/31683
http://www.deere.com/media/player/en_us_mediaplayerpopup.html?divisionName=cce/safety/&Video=traditional_gator_safety&r=1

Heavy Equipment Help

2009-08-19T07:35:00.000-07:00

Most all construction sites begin with dirt work. This means there are alot of heavy machines running around. Unaware operators and employees can be seriously hurt by these machines.

Also operators should be trained on the equipment they are using, and know how to inspect the equipment. For the industry I am in, we use alot of rough terrain forklifts, aerial lifts, and skid-steer loaders (bobcats). I have found that Caterpillar has an excellent website, that has videos and inspection forms for most heavy equipment. The only downside is, they are all in English. But is that really a downside?

Hope you find this site helpful.

http://safety.cat.com/cda/layout?m=154441&x=7

Looking for OTI Trainers?

2009-08-17T10:02:00.001-07:00

Sometimes we have jobs in the most remote places, and need to conduct some training. As luch would have it, we cannot get there in a timely manner. The link below will get you an OTI trainer in the area.

On top of that you can submit your information and be on the list if someone needs help in your area. The good thing is, its free!!

http://www.outreachtrainers.org/client/trainer_results.aspx

Zero Accident Culture?

2009-08-17T06:32:00.000-07:00

Can there be such a thing in construction? Most construction workers are in a job where danger is inherrently dangerous. There are things than we can do to reduce the risk of getting hurt at work, but I cannot see where hazards can be totally eliminated.

Take for example a guy building scaffold. The danger is falling from heights. Sure you can reduce the risk of falling by implementing rules like wearing fall protection gear, but the fact of the matter is that the guy must still climb the scaffold.

Does "Zero Accident Culture" mean that employees are constantly aware of the possibility of getting hurt? This plays a large part of it, but is not the entire answer. We are only human, and while multi-tasking is becoming the norm, it can be hard to do in a hostile environment.

Do we accept that there will be people getting hurt, and just try to minimize the severity of the injury?

Hurricane Prepardness

2009-08-16T09:59:00.000-07:00

This isn't really a construction safety topic, but with the Atlantic basin getting fired up, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about getting ready for hurricanes and tropical storms.

The biggest thing is, don't wait around. Get your things together and get away. To help in speeding this process along I have added links to storm checklists and weather updates.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/prepare/supply_kit.shtml
http://www.weather.com/

Tool Box Safety Meetings

2009-08-14T13:05:00.000-07:00

Where do construction workers get most of their safety training? At tool box safety meetings, of course. The problem is, the guy giving the meeting has to think of a different topic each time. There have been alot of time where I have reviewed sign-in sheets where the topic has been the same week in and week out. What are the guys getting from this? probably nothing, it has become a waste of time.

And if the guy does come up with a topic, where does he get the supporting information? Most times it becomes a war story about something that has happened in his past experience. Don't get me wrong, those stories have a place, but not at a safety meeting. Use the link below and make the most of your time with safety.

Tip: Don't read it right off the page, study it and speak in your own words.

http://www.toolboxtopics.com/Construction/index.htm

New Worker Orientation

2009-08-14T05:29:00.000-07:00

Statistics show that the majority of work related accidents occur within 30-45 days of a new worker hire date. Why does this happen? In the construction industry, the turnover rate is incredible and it gets increasingly expensive to research a persons resume' if they even supply one.

You can imagine that most carpenters and labors would not carry around a resume'. So you would have to "take their word" for the level of knowledge and training. One way to ensure that you have new employees the are "getting the message about safety" is to have a thorough orientation program. Currently my orientation program for new workers consists of a site specific orientation and applications of a green sticker to their hardhat, so that everyone else knows that the employee is "Green" and may need help. Also, we have mandatory "Green Sticker SafetyMeetings" each day for the first 30 days.

But how do I know that after 30 days, they are getting the message? I have come across an orientatio program that can help, if you are faced with the same problems. Believe it or not, our Corporate officers think that it is a great idea!! See the link below for all the necessary forms and explinations. Good Luck.

http://www.safetynetwork.bc.ca/toolbox_initiatives/new_worker_orientation.cfm

Hazard Warning Signs

2009-08-13T06:42:00.001-07:00

As Safety Professionals we all know that you cannot just run some safety signs through a printer, and begin posting them anywhere. Safety realted signs have color coordination to them, and if your like me, trying to price these signs can be expensive depending on the type you want.

I have this website that I use from time to time, when I'm in a pinch, that has a multitude of different Danger, Warning, Caution, and Notice signs. All you have to have is a color printer and a laminating machine.

http://www.stclaire.com/go/industrial_signage/default/html

Trying to write a safety program?

2009-08-12T05:26:00.000-07:00

Each and every project should have a Site Specific Safety Program that is dialed in on the hazards identified on that particular site. Now we all know that the vast majority of our scope of work doesn't change and the hazards may stay the same in that respect, but, site conditions may change and/or GC requirements may be different. Completing a thorough pre-construction safety briefing with the project management team can be beneficial in identifying site hazards.

So where do you get the information to actually create the program? Past experience? Maybe, but sometimes its not that easy to sit down and just dream up the verbage that goes on paper. Don't worry its called writers block and we all get from time to time.

The worst thing you can do is plagarize yourself by just changing the header on a past SSSP and try to pass it off as a new version for a different project. Bosses seem to catch on to this.

The following link can be used as a very good starting point in creating your safety program. It will have downloads for each section you will need to create a great safety program or policy.

http://www.csao.org/health_and_safety_program/index.cfm

How do you say it in Spanish?

2009-08-11T14:34:00.000-07:00

Lots of times I have found that I can communicate with the Spanish guys until I run into that one word that I just don't know how to say, and hand signals won't do it.

OSHA has an English-Spanish translation for most construction terms on their website. I have added it as a link here for you convienence.

Tip: If you can't say it, just point at it and I'm sure they will get the idea.

Bi-Lingual Safety Training

2009-08-11T10:55:00.000-07:00

I my work, I am required to train a lot of hispanic workers in safety. How do I go about doing this? Well, it has been easier than I expected. After taking quite a few classes at the Academy of Languages in Atlanta, and working with the guys every day, I have learned to be pretty proficient in Spanish. Atleast in conversation.

The biggest problem I had was getting safety related documents in Spanish so that the guys could follow along. Most large loss control insurance companies will have a select few safety meeting topics and inspection forms for you to use, but it isn't always what you are looking for.

I began using a website out of Texas that has a pretty extensive library of safety related bi-lingual documents. These can be printed out and used as handouts during toolbox safety meetings or during fucused training.

How much does an injury cost?

2009-08-10T15:07:00.000-07:00

Most upper management only sees one thing when it comes to accidents, the bills. Unfortunately there are alot of hidden costs associated with accidents like retraining, investigation time, new equipment, work shut downs, ect...

An easy way to get the attention of management when it comes to how much an accident really costs is to use the accident calculator. This may take some guesstimating on the hidden costs, but when you get them around the table, ask them how much they think each may cost.

The calculator will show them how much profit they need to secure in contracted work to pay for an injury. You can actually use past incidents as a frame of reference.

I think this justifies having a great safety program given the economy of today and the dribbling work.

Leave a note or comment

2009-08-10T10:59:00.000-07:00

I am hoping the you will leave me a note letting me know if this site is helpful and/or tips that you would like to see. I have tons of information, just what is it you want to see?

How much weight can you lift, safely?

2009-08-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

One of the current projects I am managing the safety on requires the installation of massive amounts of reinforcing steel. So how does all of that steel get moved around? The simple answer would be move it by crane or forklift, right? So what if those pieces of equipment are not available? That means doing it the old fashioned way, by hand.

You know construction workers, and how "manly" they have to be. Can't look weak in front of their buddies, so they will grab whatever it is and lift accordingly. What is the end result? Back injuries.

Back injuries are hard to treat, last for quite a while, and can be very costly. So what do we do? NIOSH has figured a formula so that you can get this information. Unfortunately you almost have to be a rocket scientist to complete the formula by hand.

So guess what? I found the formula online where all you have to do is punch in the numbers and hit calculate. Make sure that you read it carefully before you punch in the numbers, because it is in metrics.

In House Training

2009-08-07T14:19:00.000-07:00

For alot of us, Safety Professionals that is, training for ourselves can be hard to come by at a reasonable cost. You would think that at this time, with so many trainers out there, the supply overwhelms the demand causing cost of training to drop. But it hasn't.

We are no different than any other business in that we would lower our costs to be more competitive. I have recently shopped around some basic courses just to see how different they are. And to tell you the truth, the prices are all over the map.

I have added a link that will take yo to a site that has very good training for Safety Professionals as well as field guys. The actual training material is free, and you can pay a reasonably low price (about$12) for a fancy certificate. But is you are doing the training in house for your employees, just document the training, test the employees, and print your own company certificate for your people.

How good is your training?

2009-08-06T08:11:00.000-07:00

One of the things I have learned over the years is one cannot teach a class and expect students to remember every last detail that was discussed. But, we need to make sure that they remember the bulk of the information. I have always heard that if a student can learn one thing in class, the class was a success. Unfortunately when you are talking about safety, they need to take away more than one thing. So how do we verify that students have retained this information? We test them before and after the course. The pre-test is basically help the student understand that they do not know everything, although you may have some that ace the pre-test. The post-test is so that the student, as well as the instructor, can guage what they learned in the class. When the post test is completed, it may be a good idea to review both pre and post tests together with the student.

So where are the tests? Most instructors have created their own tests based on their course, but for those of you that need help or those that may want to try something different, the link "Safety Tests" will take you to a site where you can access some prepared tests on scaffold, fall protection, electrical, masonry, and general safety. The site is self-explanatory, and comes with no spam. Try it out and good luck!!

OSHA Inspection Playbook

2009-08-05T05:28:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered what goes on inside the head of a Compliance Officers when they show up at your project? Well, they have a "playbook" that they must abide by. Certain procedures must be made in order to prevent the case from being thrown out. The "OSHA Playbook" link will take you to the Compliance Officers inspection handbook, which is the directive they must take when inspecting your project.

When you are playing a sport, knowing the other teams plays gives you a tremendous advantage. The same works here.

Just keep this in mind, if you project is working safely and following the regulations, you should have nothing to worry about.

Powerpoint Training

2009-08-04T13:46:00.000-07:00

Lots of times we as safety professionals are asked to provide training on a moments notice, and sometimes we just don't have the materials ready. You can go to the Siri-UVM site that has been attached and download the appropriate training material. Some of the materials can even be customized for you.

Keep in mind that most adult learners retain the most information by "doing as instructed". Think of it like this, I can guide you on building the first model, and then you should have retained enough information to build the next model on your own. Basically it's learn by doing. But the information on how to do it needs to be shared.

Explaining Occupational Safety

2009-08-04T12:33:00.001-07:00

What better way is there to learn about something than reading about it in an encyclopedia. I have now attached a link just for that.

This link will take you to a page where you can learn just about anything related to occupational safety.

The First Post

2009-08-04T12:17:00.000-07:00

Welcome to all.

I have created this blog for those of us in the world of construction safety. Through the years I have gathered lots of knowledge from mentors and instructors. My hope is to pass on this information to other safety professionals, with one goal in mind: To help protect your employees.

I will periodically add links to websites that I have found with excellent information and/or training tools. The best thing of all is that they are free!