Working in Construction can be Dangerous

2017 Bureau of Labor Statistics for the Construction Industry

• 971 Construction Industry Fatalities during 2017
• 366 Were work-related fatal falls to a lower level
• 37% Fatal Falls from a height of 15 feet or less
• $1B Cost per week for serious, non-fatal injuries in the construction industry
• 19 Trench related fatalities 2017, OSHA’s 2019 National Emphasis Program REDUCE
• 97% of workers have at least one significant workplace fatigue risk factor, 80% have 2 or more.
• 100% Number of Construction Workers who should go home everyday

Falls to a Lower Level

What You can Do

• Report Guardrails that don’t look safe to your supervisor
• Inspect your personal fall protection equipment frequently
• Know how to identify a safe anchorage point
• Retractable lanyards may not prevent swing falls
• Report floor openings and unsecured “HOLE” covers to your supervisor
• Know who your Fall protection competent person is
• Keep both hands free when climbing ladders
• When working above 6 feet use fall protection

Slips, Trips and Falls on Walking Surfaces

What You can Do

• Wear ankle high work boots with non-slip tread
• Keep walk paths clean and free of debris, materials, and water
• Empty trash containers when three quarters (3/4) from the top
• Make sure your work area has brooms and shovels for clean-up
• Make sure the access path to the project are marked and clear of fall hazards
• If you wear bi-focals you are 40% more likely to trip and fall
• Treat and clean-up all spills very quickly
• Make sure any tripping hazards are eliminated or clearly marked

Overexertion from Pushing, Pulling, Lifting, and Carrying

What You can Do

• Avoid lifting and carrying by using mechanical aids
• Keep work at waist level in the power zone between knuckle and shoulder height
• Do warm-up exercises in the morning and after breaks
• When lifting while turning, move your feet and don’t just twist your waist
• Lift comfortably with or without a straight back
• Carry materials close to your body
• Keep walkways clear so a trip while carrying will not end up being a strain.
• Don’t put tools and materials on the floor level that will have to be moved later. Keep objects between knuckle and shoulder height

Vehicle Accidents

What You can Do

• Wear your seat belt whenever your vehicle moves
• Maintain safe following distance between you and the vehicle ahead, double the distance in bad weather
• Avoid distractions like cell phone, eating, reading maps, laptop use, and road rage
• When parking always back so you are ready to safely leave quickly if needed
• Inspect your vehicle daily for lights, tire condition, leaks, warning lights, mirrors, and window cleanliness
• Use your horn, lights, and signals to let others know your intentions early
• Look Left, Right, then Left before going through any intersection
• Tap your horn to get eye contact with pedestrians

Trenching and Excavation

What can You Do?

• Make sure underground utilities are located and marked
• Know who your competent person is
• If the excavation is more than 4 feet don’t go in it without protection
• Make sure the daily trench inspection checklist has been completed and you have looked at it
• Make sure you can safely get into and out of the trench
• Report unstable or any changes in soil condition to your supervisor.
• Make sure all workers are accounted for before machine work begins
• Make sure you have the right Trench protection

Fatigue

What You can Do

• Understand your sleep, rest, and recovery needs
• Go to the doctor if you have a health condition that affects your sleep
• Look out for signs of fatigue in other people you work with
• Reduce fatigue by taking all your breaks and when necessary
• Ride sharing will reduce your driving fatigue, and commuter stress. It will increase your fuel economy
• Drink plenty of fluids. Dehydration increases fatigue
• Fatigue and drowsiness increase after a big lunch or breakfast
• Use the right tool for the job. The wrong tool will increase your fatigue

Fire During Construction

What You can Do

• Remove trash and materials from your work area frequently
• Have a Fire extinguisher and know how to use it.
• Know how to get off of the project and where to assemble
• When welding or cutting make sure there is a hot work permit completed
• Make your supervisor is aware of any suspicious activity by vandals overnight
• Know and understand the project emergency plan
• Know the safety rules for flammable liquid storage and transportation
• Smoking only in designated areas

Water Damage During Construction

What You can Do

• Have a spill response cart available in your work area
• Have sprinkler head quick stop on the spill response cart
• Know where the water supply shutoff is for each floor
• All drains (floor and sink) in the work area are functional and clean
• Cover up and protect sensitive materials (drywall and electrical components) from water damage
• Keep materials and equipment on carts, pallets, or wood stringers to protect from standing water.
• Know who to contact if water starts leaking suddenly. Know who your spill response team is
• Assume plumbing fixtures and pipe are live and pressurized with water

Runover and Backover

What You can Do

• Understand heavy equipment blind spots
• Always use a spotter when backing heavy equipment and trucks
• Wear High Visibility reflective work wear
• Make sure back-up alarms are working
• Only designated people should be around moving equipment and trucks
• Worker foot traffic should be outside of equipment routes
• Watch out for others in harms way

Improve Yourself

What can You Do

• Become a Competent Person
• Do a safety presentation for your work group
• Get a construction safety certification
• Dress like a safety minded craft professional
• Learn how to see upcoming risks when reading a schedule
• Learn another language and do research on other cultures than your own. Diversity = a safer project
• Learn how to have tough conversations with your leadership on safety issues/improvements that need to change
• Communication is the key to Safe Work. Study, practice, and learn how to communicate more effectively

Thank You!

Willis Towers Watson – Construction Practice

4-30-19

www.willistowerswatson.com

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