CHAPTER 2 – ROLES OF CONSTRUCTION PERSONNEL IN SAFETY AND HEALTH CEE 698 – Construction Health and Safety CHAPTER 2 – ROLES OF CONSTRUCTION PERSONNEL IN SAFETY AND HEALTH

Members of the Safety and Health Teams “Safety is everyone’s responsibility.” Member’s of the Safety and Health Team: Professional personnel Supervisors Employees and subcontractors Safety and health professionals CEE 698 – Construction Health and Safety

Responsibilities of the Contractors Contractors’ ultimate responsibility for safety and health on their job sites include; Setting a pro–safety stand for the company which ensures that safety and health will be high priorities Establishing a top-down commitment to safety and health within the company by including safety and health in the company‘s strategic plan. Allocating sufficient resources to support a comprehensive, company wide safety effort. CEE 698 – Construction Health and Safety

Managers and Safety Managers are responsible for setting a positive example of safety by; Developing job descriptions that make safety and health part of every employee’s job Developing performance forms that contain safety and health criteria Rewarding safe behavior and promoting with safety performance in mind Developing procedures with safety and health in mind Recognizing safe behavior continually Ensuring company has safety and health program in place Being current with OSHA standards and regulations Communicating safety and health information to employees and subcontractors CEE 698 – Construction Health and Safety

Safety Starts at the Supervisor Supervisors interact with employees on job sites more frequently than do higher-level managers. Safety must be an everyday, hands-on responsibility for supervisors which includes; Training Accident Prevention Accident Investigation Reporting CEE 698 – Construction Health and Safety

Training Responsibilities of Supervisors New employees must be trained on safety Orientation to company’s safety policy and principles Housekeeping procedures Emergency procedures Proper use of equipment Orientation to working and handling hazardous materials Methods of instruction include; Simple one-on-one conversations Discussion groups Formal instruction CEE 698 – Construction Health and Safety

Accident Prevention Responsibilities of Supervisors Accident prevention requires an ongoing program. Involve employees in an hazard identification program Empower employees to identify hazards associated with their work and to make recommendations for eliminating them Involve employees in developing safe job procedures Supervisors should work with the employees to find productive but safe ways to perform the job in question CEE 698 – Construction Health and Safety

Accident Prevention Responsibilities of Supervisors Teach and enforce employees on how to properly use personal protective equipment Ensure that employees learn, follow through and apply how to use appropriate personal protective equipment Teach good housekeeping procedures and require adherence Ensure that employees maintain a clean, organized and orderly workplace Teach employees the fundamentals of safe work practices (ex. safe lifting, proper dress, eye protection) Monitor general work practices closely CEE 698 – Construction Health and Safety

Accident Investigation and Reporting The purpose of an investigation is to find the cause of the accident. Supervisors and management can develop action plans to eliminate the hazard in the future Investigations should be conducted immediately. Time can obscure the facts. CEE 698 – Construction Health and Safety

Accident Investigation and Reporting CEE 698 – Construction Health and Safety

Accident Reporting Once the investigation is complete, an accident report should be written. An accident report is a comprehensive summary of all the pertinent facts about an accident. A well prepared accident report should; Be brief and factual Be objective Cover all the facts Clearly state the employees and the equipment involved in the accident Point out any procedures or safety precautions which were not followed List all the factors related to the cause of the accident Involve future recommendations CEE 698 – Construction Health and Safety

Employees and Safety A safety and health policy does not prevent accidents unless employees accept it. Ensuring a safe and healthy job site requires the concentrated efforts of all members of the team. Following the rules relating to safety and health on the job site is the responsibility of the individual employee. Employees must play a positive, proactive role in helping preventing accidents. CEE 698 – Construction Health and Safety

Safety and Health Manager Construction companies with a highly placed safety and health managers were rare until the passage of OSHA Act in 1970. The manager’s position in the hierarchy is an indication of the company’s commitment and priorities. Specific duties of a safety and health manager include: Developing safety and health program for company Analyzing and assessing all jobs, processes, and materials for hazards Working to develop, implement, monitor, and evaluate accident prevention hazard control strategies Ensuring company wide compliance with all laws, standards, and codes Planning, implementing, and executing safety and health programs Maintaining safety records Conducting accident investigations Developing and maintaining Emergency Action Plan Establishing and maintaining safety promotion effort Analyzing company’s products from the perspectives of safety, health, and liability CEE 698 – Construction Health and Safety