Issue Date: HHN - February 16, 2007, Posted On: 2/20/2007
Make Job Safety Part of the Daily Routine: Identify Hazards, Then Address Them by David A. Smith
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. - True, safety programs can cost time and money. Done right, however, they can also save on both. More importantly, they can help prevent injuries and deaths in an industry that can be a dangerous place in which to work, said Stuart N. King, safety director/project manager with Engineers Construction Inc., of South Burlington, VT.
King was among the experts invited to present at the Northeast Trenchless Association’s annual meeting January 15th and 16th in Framingham, MA. The two-day event featured information on trenchless construction training, technology and other industry-related topics, including King’s presentation on Job Hazard Analysis.
“Our primary goal is to reduce accidents and hopefully get them down to zero, which we know is really impossible, but that’s our goal,” said King, who has been with Engineers Construction for 14 years. “Not only that, it just makes good business sense. Ten minutes a day, 15 minutes a day might save you a ton of money. It might save an employee’s life.” King outlined the importance of a hazard assessment, which not only provides an opportunity to identify and control work place hazards, but can also lead to increased productivity and may also prevent injuries or illnesses, he said. Begin, he said, by identifying work place hazards, then determine how to mitigate those hazards.
To identify hazards, walk through the job site, note the work place layout and observe activities and conditions. Identify potential hazards, such as sources of motion, dust, chemicals, electrical hazards or dangers presented by falling, sharp, rolling or piercing objects. Also, learn from previous accidents, and identify things creating frequent repairs.
To create the job hazard analysis, break a task down into its component parts, identify hazards and make employees aware of the hazards, he said. Be careful not to overload on paperwork and don’t burden just one person with the assignment. Select people who have previously done the task.
“Have them help you participate in the process,” he said, then watch the employee do the task, describe the steps, then repeat the process. “You’re not going to get them all the first time you do it.” Once hazards are identified, develop solutions. Even simple things, such as dressing properly for weather conditions or steps taken to prevent scrapes or trips, can protect employees, save money and increase productivity.
“Find a new way to do the job, if possible,” he said. “See if there’s a better way. Consider work-saving tools. Change the way you lay out the job site. Study the change to make sure it benefits you.” Remember, King said, that new processes and procedures could affect existing processes. That’s why it’s important to re-evaluate procedures.
Mitigating hazards can mean changing change work procedures, or it can mean introducing controls, such as guards or personal protective equipment, known as PPE. However, OSHA does not like the use of personal protective equipment as the only way to avoid hazards, King said.
“(PPE) doesn’t get rid of the hazard, but it helps our employees shield themselves from it,” he said, provided they know the equipment’s limitations, and that the PPE is properly matched to the task. “A good example of that is gloves. There are 100 different types of gloves for any type of hazard. The selection of the glove is very important.” King, who walked through an example of a Job Hazard Analysis he prepared for Engineers Construction Inc. affiliate ECI Directional Drilling Inc, also strongly recommended a daily job review of the tasks for each workday.
“This is a key item, where we start the day with a tailboard session … where we talk about the hazards and we see how to combat them,” he said. “As the job changes, it’s the responsibility of the lead person - who’s responsible for safety - to re-evaluate, make sure you are looking ahead to what’s coming up.”
