As project managers in construction, we have one foot in the office and the other on the job site. We are essentially the bridge between the two, which means we’re responsible for a large portion of both ‘worlds’. While project managers spend most of their time on managerial tasks and administrative work, we do need to spend time understanding safe work practices as well as contribute to the onsite safety requirements of our projects. In this article, we’ll be discussing some basic jobsite safety topics for project managers to know. Let’s begin!
Construction Jobsite Safety Organizations To Know About
Here are a few websites of well-known safety organizations within the construction industry that project managers should be aware of:
- Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA)
- US Dept. Of Labor
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
These organizations have many safety regulations and standards that must be followed on every job site across the USA.
Top 10 Basic Jobsite Safety Topics For Project Managers In Construction
Without further ado, here are the top 10 basic jobsite safety topics that project managers should know about and understand before working on a site for the first time! Jump ahead to a section by clicking below.
- Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)
- Site Safety Plan
- Training/Certifications
- Fall Safety Protection
- Trench Protection (From Collapse)
- Overhead Protection
- Safe Access To Work
- Containment Of Debris & Contaminants
- Fire Protection / Fire Watch
- Caught-Between Hazards
We’ll discuss the details of each below!
1. Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)
Whether you’re working onsite physically or just onsite observing, wearing personal protective equipment is a must!
Otherwise known as PPE, personal protective equipment is defined as anything that is meant to specifically protect your body.
Basic PPE that everyone should wear onsite include a hard hat, safety glasses, hi-vis (fluorescent) vest or shirt, long pants and work boots.
More specific work environments call for additional PPE.
Handling sharp materials like sheet metal requires specific cut-resistant gloves.
Working or walking at heights requires fall protection like harnesses and lanyards.
Loud environments call for hearing protection, while areas with lots of dust require dust masks.
Working with haz-mat requires air-tight head-to-toe body suits, which includes full head protection and masks with chemical filters.
2. Site Safety Plan
Site safety planning begins with a first aid kit. Every job site should have a fully stock kit like those below:
Every job site requires a written site-specific safety plan. This is an outline of safety rules, requirements and emergency information – both in general practice and for the specific project.
We’re working on a site safety plan template currently and will publish it in the near future. In the meantime, a site safety plan should include the following information:
- Jobsite Address & Hours
- Site Foreman & Superintendent Contact Info
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS) – Information For Materials In Use
- Safety Requirements – PPE & Jobsite Hazards
- Nearest Hospital & Safety Clinic
- Hazards Specific To The Work Taking Place
Most importantly, every worker must review and sign the site safety plan prior to beginning any work onsite! Speaking of which…
3. Safety Training & Certifications
All workers must have safety training, with certificates to prove it.
On the most basic level, all construction workers should ideally have an OSHA 10
or OSHA 30 – this is issued after completing 10 or 30 hours of safety training in an OSHA training program, respectively.
Some other common certifications are:
- Scaffold ‘User’ Certificates
- Scaffold ‘Erector’ Certificates
- Traffic Safety Certificate (Placing Safety Devices On Road For Traffic Control)
- Swing Scaffolding Certifications
- Training Cards For Operating Equipment Like Manlifts
- Railroad Certificate (Working On/Near Tracks)
- HAZWOPER / Hazardous Material Training
- OSHA 40+ – OHSA Has Many Advanced Certificates
It’s important to note any material, equipment or specific work tasks that require more advanced certificates as well!
4. Fall Safety / Fall Arrest
Earlier, we spoke about PPE involving fall safety like harnesses and lanyards. But that’s just the beginning when it comes to fall safety.
For example, workers that are working at height should use tool tethers, which attach tools to the user via strap, in the event they drop the tool accidentally.
All scaffolding, drop-offs and edges should be protected with handrails. Make sure you check the OSHA standard for handrail requirements in your specific application.
PROMOTION
All walking decks and platforms should be built using OSHA-approved planking. Any plans related to safety walkways and decking should be stamped by a Professional Engineer (P.E.). Anyone building them should be certified to do so (see earlier section).
Remember: According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of construction fatalities, accounting for 1/3rd of all construction-related deaths.
5. Trench Protection
While not as often as fall-related accidents, trench collapses account for a fair portion of them, too.
Trenches are dug for many reasons. Work related to public utilities, foundations, earth-moving, natural resources and tunneling all require extensive use of trenches – sometimes hundreds of feet deep or thousands of feet long.
Each trench requires a different form of protection. Narrow, deep excavations require shoring systems to support vertical soil walls. Larger trenches are dug in a stepped fashion to prevent collapse.
Some trenches are covered using steel road plates, such as those in the road. Other trenches require fencing or railings to prevent people from getting to close to the edge.
Most jurisdictions require trench protection any time a trench is dug beyond 4-feet deep, but check make sure to check OSHA and local requirements.
As always, any trench protection design should be stamped by a Professional Engineer (P.E.).
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6. Overhead Protection
Just as objects or debris must be prevented from falling, they must also be prevented from striking anyone working below.
Overhead protection systems are designed to protect workers from objects falling from overhead. This comes in many forms.
Walkways and sidewalks should have a ‘bridge‘ or ‘shed‘ built above them. Some bridges are built to protect from falling objects, while others are strong enough to protect against this and also support stored material.
When demolishing a concrete floor or bridge deck, protection like netting or planking must be installed below it to catch the falling debris.
Of course, the original and mandatory ‘overhead’ protection is the hard hat.
7. Safe Access To Work
Gone are the days of working off ladders, walking up rail-less stairs and standing on a bucket to reach something. The modern age takes work access a lot more seriously.
Instead of working off of ladders, safe work entails building a platform using scaffolding and planks, or working from a manlift.
PROMOTION
OSHA-compliant stairs and ramps must be used in place of old ‘creative’ methods. This includes proper handrails and anti-slip surfaces.
Pipe scaffold and swing scaffold are common when working on buildings. They must meet certain criteria and be OSHA-compliant. Scaffolding must also be built by a worker certified to do so. In nearly all cases, scaffold designs – both pipe and swing – must be stamped by a Professional Engineer (P.E.).
Ladders are still used for access to work, but not for performing any work. A-frame ladders are the standard now, are they lock and have four points of support – remember that fall-fatality statistic!
8. Containment Of Debris & Contaminants
What happens on a job site…STAYS on the job site. At least this is true when it comes to construction debris and other by-products of work taking place.
Demolition creates falling objects, dust and even projectiles. This is why fencing and netting is essential for containing debris, and means to control dust must be in place.
In a hazardous material scenario, containment must be completely air-tight to not allow ANY airborne debris to escape. This work must be permitted beforehand! The same can be said for work related to painting or other highly-toxic materials.
In the event of debris or waste being washed away, runoff protection like hay bales and mesh fencing must be implemented so rain and snow doesn’t carry waste offsite.
Containing the debris and other hazardous material within the job site is essential for the safety of those onsite and also for those just passing by.
9. Fire Protection & Fire Watch
One often-forgotten hazard on construction sites is fire. Just like at home, fires on a job site can be created in a number of ways.
One of the most common ways that fires start on a job site is through sparks. When cutting anything metal, sparks will always be created. These sparks can shoot in all directions and cause paper or fabric to catch fire easily.
The same can be said for welding or any other ‘hot work’. This is why this type of work usually requires a ‘Hot Work Permit‘, along with someone to serve as the fire watch while the work is happening.
Spilled fuel can go undetected, but will immediately be set ablaze once in contact with sparks or a flame.
Another way fires can be started is from smoking. It goes without saying – no smoking onsite!
For all of the above, make sure to look into fire protection requirements for the specific type of work taking place. The easiest way? Keep an ‘ABC’ fire extinguisher within 25 feet of the work.
10. Caught-Between Hazards
Last but not least on our list of basic jobsite safety topics are ‘caught-betweens‘. Much like it sounds, a caught-between occurs whenever there’s too little room or clearance between an object in motion and another object.
Here are a few common situations where caught-betweens can happen:
- A person gets caught between a piece of equipment and a wall.
- A person walks behind a truck or other equipment while it’s backing up.
- Heavy material being hoisted begins to swing, and a worker gets struck while pinned against a wall.
- Material hoist or straps are overloaded and collapsing material strikes workers.
Here are a few ways to prevent caught-betweens from happening on construction sites:
- Make sure all equipment has proper functioning mirrors.
- Ensure that all backup alarms are working.
- All hoisted material should be guided via tether whenever possible.
- Have a hoisting plan developed and stamped by a Professional Engineer (P.E.).
- Designate safe walking zones that are protected by fencing or barricades.
In Summary
Construction is a dangerous industry. People die every day from construction-related accidents in America alone, with countless others injured along the way. The phrase “safety is #1” sounds corny, but it’s true. These are workers who will never come home from work that day, or who are permanently injured for the rest of their lives. It’s very important to be well-versed in basic jobsite safety practices as project managers. With a little training, awareness and forethought, though, safety isn’t too complicated and is absolutely worth learning as soon as possible! I truly hope this article has been helpful and thanks for reading.
