safety

The issue- I have been involved something on the order of a billion
dollars worth of construction projects...I'm not sure what absolutely
definitive statement I could make about any of those projects...with one
exception...

I am absolutely sure that NONE of those projects, not one, was worth the
lose of a human life, serious injury, or even a minor injury...

I don't care how important the Client thinks the job is, or how important
your Project Manager thinks the job is, or even how important you think
the job is....it is, without a doubt, not as important as Safety...

The obvious answer is a commitment to the idea that all accidents are
preventable...a true commitment, not lip service, not Safety if it's
convenient, or if it doesn't cost too much...It's not just hanging a banner at
the site entrance...a true commitment...

Take time to ask yourself about your commitment to Safety...

It's worth it...

Why???

We do Safety Topics...they get stale...they can be uninspired...eventually
we wonder why...if it really makes a difference...the first, and possibly the
best Safety Topic, answers the basic question, "Why do we have to be
constantly reminded about Safety?"

Human beings, by our very nature, are risk-takers...it's in our DNA, our
very basic make-up, oddly enough, it's part of our survival
mechanism...we grow accustomed to performing risky tasks...we
rationalize trying things we know may cause us harm...we adapt, we try
things...

We use Safety Topics to fight our very nature...we need to constantly
remind ourselves and others that we need to avoid the risks that we may
be adapting too...we need to remind ourselves of our tendency to minimze
our perception of the risks we take...

Start as You Intend to Finish

I have recently added a section on Safety to my standard proposal
template...Safety starts when the job is in the Proposal stage!!!
Are your current consultants really addressing your safety issues?

"ICE on your cell phone"

Program a contact number in your cell phone under the entry
ICE (In Case of Emergency). First responders are being trained to
search for this number when they encounter an uncouscious or disabled
victim with a cell phone. The number should connect emergency
personnel with your emergency contact, i.e. your spouse or significant
other...Consider putting these numbers in your kids phones also...

This topic originated during Katrina two years ago...I wish more good
came out of that event...

"Take One Minute More"

This topic was handed out on small laminated cards intended to be
reviewed before undertaking a task...the remainder of the infromation on
the card outlined specifc items to review that would assure a safe
approach to the task at hand...I think the most important part of this topic
is the overall idea of stopping, however briefly, to perform a Safety review
b efore undertaking a task...

"Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)"

We all wear the basics, a hard hat, safety glasses, maybe steel-toed
shoes...and we think we've complied...and maybe most of the time we
have.

We need to consider the specifics of our work in order to determine if we
have the complete set of PPE...

Add any additional item to the basic PPE set in order to comply with
specific requirments of your work environment and task. Consider adding
ear protection, gloves, or even special jumpsuits or hazardous gas
detectors. You may be able to think of items items that should be
considered to complete your personal Safety equipment.

"Potential Energy"

No this is not Physics class...

Please remember that items in an elevated position, like a hammer left on
that little paint shelf on a step ladder, have the ability to fall (i.e. the
potential energy derived from gravity) and cause injury solely due to the
position you left it in.

This same concept applies to elevated material or equipment, or even
material resting on the ground that can fall over on someone standing
nearby...

Try to leave tools and equipment at the lowest possible energy state
possible...and be aware of those with the "potential" to cause injury...

"Good Housekeeping"

Look at your existing facility when you are walking around...are there
items stored haphazardly?...in front of electrcial panels? possibly
blocking egress paths? Can you get rid of some of that material? or at
least. store it in a safer, more coherent manner...

Excess material also contributes to an increased fire potential...

A clean work place is a safe work place...

"Change is good, but..."

We do projects that change existing situations...improving an existing
facility or process...adding manufacturing capacity...and this change is
good...

But,...and there is alsways a but...

Take time to evaluate the new situation to see if new hazards have been
introduced...new materials or new equipment may present new hazards
and these need to be recognized.

This is especially important in the area of training operations and
maintenance personnel as it can be difficult to overcome old work habits.

Special attention must be paid to the risks associated with the benefits of
a new situation...

More to come...