By Deanna Quintana and Rachel Burris, NCCER
In April 2021, there were over 7 million people employed in construction and construction-related fields. With this vast number of craft professionals working to build America, the most important thing the industry can do is ensure their safety.
Since the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was founded in 1971, it has had a significant impact on workplace safety. In fact, within the construction industry, worker injuries and illnesses are down to 2.8 incidents per 100 workers in 2019 from 10.9 per 100 in 1972. The OSHA standard includes training requirements and safety standards that have saved thousands of lives.
There are numerous safety protocols and procedures to set in place – let’s explore five of the top ones.
1. Implement training and retraining
Safety incidents and accidents in the construction industry can be prevented. Proper training sets the foundation for a safe workplace.
Basic Safety (Construction Site Safety Orientation) – The “Basic Safety (Construction Site Safety Orientation)” module (00101-15) that aligns to OSHA’s 10-hour program. This means that instructors who are OSHA-500 certified are able to issue 10-hour OSHA cards to their trainees who successfully complete the module. Combined with an NCCER credential, the OSHA 10-hour card will show employers a credible and valuable training record.
NCCER’s Construction Site Safety Orientation and OSHA 10-hour training both teach basic hazard awareness, providing an effective way to get introduced to safety concepts. Trainees who complete NCCER’s module from an OSHA-500 certified instructor receive both an industry-recognized credential and OSHA 10-hour card.
Employers who may not have an OSHA-certified instructor on hand can utilize CareerSafe’s online training that results in employees earning their OSHA 10-hour card. CareerSafe’s innovative and interactive program is entirely online and held to high standards. To ensure the rigor of the training, trainees are required to take assessments to complete the course. Recently, NCCER partnered with CareerSafe to recognize employers’ OSHA 10 training in the NCCER Registry and offer their accredited organizations a discount on CareerSafe’s training.
In addition, it can be hard to accurately measure the level of safety training new hires might have received from an apprenticeship, education program or previous employer. Therefore, it is a good idea to review proper safety procedures to ensure any craft professional, novice or experienced, can operate equipment safely and are following safe practices each day.
Continued safety training can include monthly lunch and learn programs, attending safety excellence certification courses or holding targeted safety training sessions. Creating an environment that regularly strengthens these skills will get workers to embrace an effective safety culture.
2. Identify potential hazards
Planning, staging and critical thinking can help craft professionals create a safer work environment and minimize dangers in the field.
To identify potential risks, Nova Group introduced the RED Book, a miniature job hazard analysis. Cole Davis, Nova Group, said, “The employees check the boxes of what they are going to be exposed to that day, such as trench cave-ins, hazardous materials or different key hazards, as well as what controls are in place to help minimize their exposure.” Short for Recognize, Eliminate and Discuss, this book promotes good safety practices for craft professionals in construction.
When employees think about their daily tasks or projects prior to the start of the day, they can identify hazards before an issue occurs, reducing risk of injury or illness in the workplace.
3. Make sure essential safety equipment is readily available
Wearing the proper safety gear when working in the construction industry may seem like a given. However, it is important to reiterate how effective personal protective equipment (PPE) can be. Craft professionals can use or wear PPE to minimize dangers in the workplace. According to OSHA’s quick card, PPE covers five major categories:
- Eye and face protection
- Foot protection
- Hand protection
- Head protection
- Hearing protection
For added benefit, make sure the right equipment is being worn for the right job. Consider investing in craft-specific PPE, such as specialty gloves for concrete work or welding. From safety goggles to hard hats, hand protection and more, PPE protects craft professionals and fosters a safe working environment.
4. Trust safety managers
Safety is not just an individual effort; It requires a team and, in many cases, safety managers. With any project, there can be numerous craft professionals on the job. These professionals solely focus on safety for the entire site.
Safety managers oversee safety fundamentals – from training staff, to implementing steps to prevent accidents and inspecting daily safety procedures. With a strong passion for protecting others, these professionals are equipped to identify hazards and stay up to date on both existing and new regulations.
Embracing the role of the safety manager, in addition to personal measures that minimize risks will ensure that all employees are informed, prepared and most importantly safe when working.
5. Utilize mobile technology
According to Pew Research Center, nearly 96% of Americans own a cellphone of some kind and 81% include smartphones. With a majority able to access information at the palm of their hand, mobile technology is allowing communication to happen at a faster speed and with more detail.
Encouraging the use of camera and video tools, employees can share workplace hazards, alert safety departments and be involved in actively mitigating job site hazards. Even utilizing the basic text/call functions, workers on a project can communicate with each other quickly and efficiently.
From sending daily safety reminders to specialized apps or keeping digital copies of safety procedures and regulations on hand, mobile technology can help foster a safer environment by sharing insight in real-time.
Safety protocols and procedures are not just about the company or the individual, as the impact of a safety issue goes beyond the walls of the construction site. Every year we in the industry focus on safety, every month we focus on safety and every day we focus on safety.
About the Authors:
Deanna Quintana, originally from Las Vegas, is a graduate from the University of Florida holding a Bachelor of Science in public relations and a certificate in international communications. As contributing writer for NCCER in Alachua, Florida, she focuses on writing about the construction industry and how to better recruit and educate new craft professionals.
Rachel Burris is the senior communications manager at NCCER. She has over seven years’ experience in communications and public relations, including writing and editing content for emails, social media, press releases, blogs and articles. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of South Florida and a Master of Business Administration degree from Webster University.
For more information on OSHA-10 training, click here. For specific information on workforce development programs, click here.
