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Wednesday, February 13, 2002 Implement a job site safety and health program By Eddie
Lusher, President
Home builders across the country are implementing job site safety and health programs in order to eliminate needless construction accidents and protect their most valuable assets their workers. Policies that mandate a safe work site at all times can not only help to eliminate these accidents, but can lower workers' compensation costs and increase company profitability as well. An effective safety program helps ensure the construction site operates in a manner that ensures the safety of all workers. The reasons for a builder to start a safety program are clear. Developing a safety program, while perhaps intimidating at first, is not a terribly difficult or time-consuming endeavor. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) suggests the following steps to help you on your way to a safe work site. Besides, once you've made the commitment to provide a safe workplace, you're already halfway to reaching your goal. One of the first steps is to define your needs. Just ask yourself, "What safety hazards are created by the everyday operations within my company?" By identifying the hazards on the job, you will be able to develop a program that is specific to your company. When thinking of these hazards, remember that subcontractors must also consider if the general contractor has any special safety requirements. The next step is to define your goals. This is important in any company. In home building, your goals may be to protect your workers, be in compliance with OSHA regulations, reduce workers' compensation rates and avoid lawsuits from injured workers. These will vary from company to company, depending on your particular needs. The key is to identify the safety goals of your organization. Now that these first steps are complete, you can now begin developing your program. In general, your program should contain policies and procedures that describe how you will enforce your program. Your written program should also cover topics such areas as record keeping methods, accident investigation procedures, OSHA compliance programs, training programs, job site inspections, and filing workers' compensation and accident reports. You will also need to establish a budget. Yes, a safety program will require an investment of funds; however, keep in mind that the money you set aside will provide a substantial return in the long run through reduced insurance costs and increased productivity. Budgets should also be prepared for purchasing items such as personal protective equipment (PPE), first aid kits and fire extinguishers. You are now ready to appoint a safety director or someone to be in charge of implementing the program. It doesn't have to be a safety professional, but it does need to be someone responsible and knowledgeable enough to carry out the duties of the program. Your safety program also needs a set of rules for employee and management accountability and disciplinary actions. You must be committed to following through on disciplinary action against employees who break the rules. Some employees will take chances that they should not take. Following through on disciplinary actions sends the message that your company is serious about safety. Once the written program is complete, distribute the document to all of your employees. You may want to have them sign for it so that you have written documentation that they did receive it and are responsible for its contents. To further ensure that your employees understand correct work procedures, safety training must be conducted. Training is perhaps the most essential aspect of your safety program. The safety supervisor should conduct an orientation for new employees on the policies and procedures of your safety program. Also, any new processes or procedures that are added to your program should be forwarded and discussed with all employees. It's important to keep a written record of all training so that it can be periodically evaluated and improvements can be made. Also, if OSHA shows up at your work site, you have documentation that your employees have received safety training. The next step in carrying out your safety program is to actually implement the program. In other words, don't let it just collect dust on a shelf once you have put all of the effort into developing it. For example, if the written program says that the safety supervisor will inspect job sites on a regular basis, make sure it gets done. Be sure to also periodically evaluate the program's effectiveness by conducting routine audits of the program. Remember that safety programs are not stagnant; they continuously change. There is no magic formula for an effective safety program. It will take some work and money to implement a good program, but the benefits far outweigh the costs. The program will require management, just as you would manage productivity, quality control or scheduling. You can't simply create a safety program and expect it to work wonders by itself. Your company must be committed to your safety program and stick with it over time. Reshaping the views of your employees will take place over a period of weeks, months and perhaps years. However, the rewards will be worth the effort. There are many resources to help you create an effective safety program for your company. There are safety consultants who can visit your work site and recommend a program tailored to your needs. Your insurance carrier may have materials to help you get started, or you can consult the Internet. What better way is there to invest in your business and the safety of your employees at the same time: implement a company safety and health program today! (Eddie Lusher, who is with Jerry Ballard Homes, is president of the Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia, which serves a membership of approximately 460 builders and associate members in Fayette, Coweta, Spalding, Heard and Meriwether counties.)
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