National Safety Month Reminders for Workers, Leaders in Construction
Courtesy: National Safety Council
Crane Industry Services joins with National Safety Council in promoting National Safety Month during June 2016. Observed annually, the focus is different for workers and managers, who face equally important, but unique safety challenges. According to NSC, when leaders and employees are engaged in safety awareness, companies experience lower injury and illness rates.
Organizations with high employee engagement outperform those with less-engaged employees in operating income, net income growth, and earnings per share. “By identifying gaps in skills and knowledge, safety and productivity audits can help employees work safer and smarter,” says Debbie Dickinson, CEO of Crane Industry Services. NSC notes that among the immediate benefits are improved worker morale, increased productivity, and reduced costs. In addition, much as $6 return is possible on every $1 invested in safety.
Construction is one of the Top 5 occupations with the largest number of workplace injuries. (See infographic: Workplace Injuries by the Numbers.) In construction environments, employees in the field must remain situationally aware at all times, whether your task is rigging, signaling a crane operator, or lifting a load. Awareness of pinch points, overhead obstructions or energized power lines, and other workers in the vicinity of the lift are just some of the potential hazards you face. “It’s important that construction and engineering teams work together to identify hazards, select the right crane and gear for the lift, and establish lift plan communication protocol,” says Cliff Dickinson, President of CIS and the company’s lead lift planning consultant.
Back at the office, crane and rigging supervisors and safety managers may face other challenges, like justifying the return on investment for training or the purchase of safety equipment.
Useful tips and reminders
The following resources are just a few made available recently that provide useful tips and reminders for construction workers in the field, as well as managers directing safety programs.
Avoiding Heat Stroke In 2013, 372 people died in the U.S. from exposure to excessive heat, according to Injury Facts 2016. Heat-related illness can escalate rapidly. Do you know the signs and what to do if you experience symptoms?
Equipment Safety Reference Guide The Association of Equipment Manufacturers reminds operators that before operating any machinery, to always refer to the operating manual and to know the rules for safe use and maintenance. Do you know the common signal words and symbols used in crane manuals?
10 Most Damaged Rigging Products When every day rigging products get damaged, the cause is often improper use or maintenance. Lifting Gear Hire’s Corporate Trainer Patrick Clark shares tips on protecting (and properly using) hooks, spreader beams, slings and more.
Supervisors and Safety Managers are often faced with justifying safety investments. NSC provides three free safety measurement tools: Safety System Assessment, Employee Safety Perception Survey, and Incident Rate Calculator. Each tool can provide you with valuable data to set priorities for improving workplace practices.
