30 Universal Work Zone Safety Tips By Bryan Christiansen
track their entrance and exit from the site. Furthermore, contractors and visitors should use a sign-in system, where they gain permission to enter the work area. This process is needed in case of emergencies. The site team will need to locate all personnel and report for their well-being. 5. PPE The site policy on wearing PPE should be mandatory and clear to all. Individuals not adhering to policy should not be allowed to perform work – no exceptions. Contractors working onsite should get PPE recommendations from the site staff as part of their work permit process. Both groups should work together to keep the work as safe as possible. 6. Encourage a Culture of All-In Safety Ownership Foster a culture where employees are encouraged to take ownership of everyone’s safety. Build a trusting environment and a sense that all oversee the safety of others. This starts with leadership setting the tone. Thus, the burden does not fall on one Health & Safety employee. Clearly mark designated walking paths for pedestrians onsite. This practice helps everyone to know where to expect pedestrian traffic and adjust accordingly. It also reduces the chance of a person walking in an unsafe location. 8. Require Safety Vests/Jackets When everyone onsite is required to wear a high visibility vest, it makes pedestrians more distinguishable and less prone to incidents. 9. Paint Stairs and Trip Hazards The majority of falls result from slips and trips at the same height. To help reduce trips and falls, stairs and trip hazards should be painted with a distinguishing color (typically yellow). This helps to draw the eye to the potential hazard, alerting the individual to watch their step. 10. Require Handrail Usage To further help reduce trips and falls, require handrail usage on stairs. Prohibit the carrying of materials with more than one hand, which re- #7-#13 Moving About the Worksite 7. Set & Mark Designated Walking Paths Employees, visitors and contractors onsite should be aware of moving equipment (such as fork trucks). Use safety convex mirrors in travel paths so that people can easily check if something is coming around a corner. Affix safety lights to moving equipment to give a visual warn- ing ahead in the pathway. Finally, equipment should give a audible cue (fork trunk “honk”) before it crosses an intersection. 12. Visitor Escorts Consider requiring all visitors (or perhaps certain visitors) to be escort- ed onsite by experienced employees. If possible, this practice greatly reduces the chance of incidents. stricts vision and can lead to accidents. 11. Watch for Moving Equipment
Most sites are looking to continuously evolve and improve their safety program. To help with this, new ideas need to be brought in. Fortu- nately, there are a number of safety tips that can be applied to almost any work zone. This article presents 30 small tips that could lead to big
safety improvement at any construction site. #1-#6 The Backbone of a Safety Program 1. Train Employees Effectively
Safety training is not only necessary for spreading safety awareness through an organization, it is required by law. As it forms the base of any good safety program, it must not be taken lightly. OSHA establishes training requirements for many industries and tasks, and the employer must provide adequate training. Thus, it is beneficial to maximize the effectiveness of the training. OSHA also provides guidance on training effectiveness. To highlight: • Ensure trainers are subject matter experts and thoroughly understand the material. • Training material should be accurate, clear, and practical to the trainees. • The bulk of the training should be activity based, rather than lecture based. • The training environment should be suitable – enough room and materials, and a good instructor to trainee ratio. • Include methods to check whether trainees understand the material. • Involve workers in the training development. Different OSHA guides clearly state that when workers have a voice in the workplace and input about how training is developed, training programs are more accurately focused on specific workplace hazards. By following these strategies, the training effectiveness can significantly improved. 2. Train Visitors Training must also be provided to contractors and site visitors. This ensures that everyone onsite understands all the relevant dangers and risks. This training should be a part of a comprehensive visitor policy, which will include other aspects (included in the next few tips). 3. Use a Badge System An identification badge policy can help protect everyone at the facility. By establishing a badge system, a business can: • Ensure mandated safety training is complete before issuing badges, • Identify visitors and contractors who may be more prone to risk, • Control access to more dangerous areas of the facility, and • Track location of personnel. A badge is a rapid identifier in the facility and helps provide a quick reference to experienced site employees. 4. Use a Sign-in System Ensure all people are entering the site at one specified location and
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may 2020
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