|
|
News Releases & Articles
|
WHY SAFETY IS SO IMPORTANT IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
BY: PATRICK MOORE
DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND SAFETY OF
SWEETWATER CONSTRUCTION CORP.
Construction has the highest number of fatalities and is the most dangerous form of regular employment in the United States. Some seasonal industries, such as fishing and logging, also have high fatality rates. However, since construction employment makes up such a large percentage of the occupational workforce, the overall number of people affected is higher.
We hear of these fatalities and injuries everyday. Recently, a construction worker plummeted 40 stories to his death at a Manhattan-based hotel-condominium tower, which was under construction. Three other people were injured. In another instance, a man died in Perth Amboy, New Jersey from a 30-foot fall at a construction site, and a construction worker fell about 30 feet from a scaffolding in downtown Jersey City.
What can we do to prevent events like these from happening again? What are construction companies and clients doing to prevent such incidents from occurring? The bottom line is that it is imperative for all workers, involved in any construction project, to go home in the same condition in which they came to work. Employers must find a way to make safety applicable everyday.
However, many employers are simply telling employees “just don’t get hurt” and to “think safe”, but this has no real impact. The only way to make sure safety is commonplace on a project is to educate workers. Education should be first and foremost the most important approach taken by employers when dealing with employees. Since the employer is ultimately responsible, they should actively ensure that safety is always a main component in any project.
One of the major issues facing employers is that many construction workers are transient employees. This makes it difficult to gauge which workers have been trained and at what level. Many times employers assume that employees have already been trained, however this is not often the case. Other times the training is not at the level required for a particular project. Therefore, it is best for everyone to receive regular training so they are quickly brought up to date with information consistent with the law, which frequently changes.
It is also imperative to never take for granted the educational experience of a worker, whether it be a union or non-union employee. Employers cannot assume “common sense” when it comes to safety especially because of the simple fact that many are not being instructed properly. There are also many communication barriers that exist, as there is great cultural diversity in the construction industry, and in this instance, employers should ensure that training is offered in each language necessary.
Sweetwater feels that the best way to ensure that employees and subcontractors are being consistently trained is to implement a more comprehensive safety program. Since implementing this program, we have seen a 90 percent reduction rate in injuries. Also, clients have been taking notice, realizing the importance of this as far as the impact it has on the overall schedule, quality and budget of a project.
Most importantly, Sweetwater educates workers on the foundations behind the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1971. We help employees and subcontractors understand the legal requirement behind this act and its importance. Secondly, we offer supervisory training. Thirdly, we conduct the OSHA 30-Hour and OSHA 10-Hour courses. The OSHA 30-Hour course is an industry recognized ‘best management practice’ regarding safety standards for construction. The OSHA 10-Hour Course is basically a condensed version focusing on very specific topics. We highly encourage our staff to become outreach instructors to have a more comprehensive understanding of the process.
Additionally, Sweetwater engages our insurance brokers and insurance carriers to provide topical training. One example of this is “high impact hazards”. We educate the staff on the most common hazards in the industry as well as what to look out for, how to identify conditions that are unsafe, and how to correct it. The most common types of high impact hazards are falls, electrocutions, struck-bys and being caught-in-between.
Sweetwater also gives workers a general introduction to the other standards that exist. Sometimes there is special emphasis on items that impact particular projects such as silica hazards, concrete dust, hazardous materials, site-specific chemicals, asbestos, materials or chemicals, and benzene. Additionally, each job site requires different lessons. For example, there will be a class regarding doing work on research laboratories and all things related.
Sweetwater keeps a comprehensive and standardized safety manual that functions as the safety “bible” for the construction project. This safety manual contains all safety policies and procedures, as well as all safety checklists and forms. This safety manual establishes as diary of the project, containing safety meeting reports, inspection reports, rare accident reports, job safety analyses, and etc. The safety manual is required to be available at all times on the jobsite for audit by Safety Management. The safety manual receives a full revision annually so that it is up-to-date with new laws. Semi-annually, there is a review and change depending on specific requirements for new projects. Also, the manual is always modified as clients require or when business conditions change.
For all of these reasons, Sweetwater’s program is proving quite successful and the feedback from our workers and clients have been positive. If every construction firm implemented an adequate safety program, the industry fatality/injury rate would be significantly less. In the long run, this is important for everyone involved; the firms, the clients, the workers, and their families.
About Sweetwater Construction Corp.
Established in 1974 and headquartered in Cranbury, New Jersey, Sweetwater Construction Corp. is guided by a proven management team and a client-centric business philosophy. Sweetwater provides clients with expert preconstruction and construction services backed by professional commitment and personal accountability. Sweetwater’s project portfolio possesses excellent experience in the Corporate, Science & Technology, Healthcare, Hospitality, Multi-Family and Institutional sectors. Sweetwater Construction Corp. delivers expertise in budgeting, estimating, constructability, lifecycle reviews, as well as professional execution during the construction phase. Every year since 1994, The Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. has awarded Sweetwater the STEP (Safety Training and Evaluation Process) Platinum Award, its highest-level peer recognized safety award given out. For more information on Sweetwater, please contact 609-655-3332, or please visit us at: http://www.sweetwatercorp.com
About Patrick Moore
Patrick Moore has worked with more than 11,000 workers and has overseen over a million construction hours with no fatalities. He has always been interested in his craft, which can be contributed to the fact that he is a third generation family member of safety experts. Aside from being safety professionals, his family also has a strong history of military service, which dates back to the Pequot War. After high school, Patrick followed suit and joined the Marine Corps. In 2005, after already have established a career and a family, Patrick joined the Army National Guard. As an officer, he and his platoon will soon be conducting a security forces mission in Iraq. Patrick resides in New Jersey with his wife and two children.
|
|
|
|
|
7-1-10
PLEASE NOTE THAT SWEETWATER'S HEADQUARTERS HAVE MOVED TO HISTORIC DOWNTOWN CRANBURY AT 32 NORTH MAIN STREET.
5-28-10
SWEETWATER AND CLIENT, COINING, INC., "BREAK GROUND" ON BUILDOUT IN MONTVALE.
Click here for link
4-16-10
SWEETWATER EMAIL BLAST ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF NJ SHARING NETWORK RENOVATION.
Click here for link
3-29-10
Sweetwater's Safety Director Talks About the Commitment of a Company Safety Program in Construction Today Magazine
Click here to view article
3-10-10
Read About Sweetwater's Subcontractor Relationships and Training in an Article Written by Patrick Moore, EHS Director
Click here to view article
2-26-10
Sweetwater Retained as CM for Holiday Inn Select Renovation in Memphis
Click here to view press release
1-18-10
Bettyjane Watkins Joins Sweetwater Construction Corp. As Director Of Business Development
Click here to view press release
10-28-09
David Blackwell, Sweetwater's Chief Estimator, Becomes LEED AP Certified
Click here to view press release
9-23-09
View construction progress for NorthStar VETS (formerly Veterinary Surgical & Diagnostic Specialists) animal specialty hospital in Robbinsville, NJ
|
|
| | | | |
|
