1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Accident Investigation and Reporting
CEE 698 – Construction Health and Safety

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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