The Key to Improve Construction Safety

by Hal on November 26, 2006

in Safety, construction, lean, project planning

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Article Series - Improving Construction Safety

  1. The Key to Improve Construction Safety
  2. What Project Planning Approach Improves Construction Safety?

Construction safety has to improve. Fast. But it hasn't. Not in over 15 years. About 1,200 people have been dying on construction sites each of those 15 years in the United States. An average of 4 deaths each workday. One thing that has changed in those 15 years is that now Latinos make up a disproportionate number of those deaths. And many more are injured every day.

All it takes is a planning process for making work ready.

The basic approach to safety has only changed slightly. At OSHA's instigation, safety promotion — usually practiced as sloganeering coupled with rewards and punishment — has been supplemented with an increased attention on education. Some companies have benefited from it. However, even the relatively safe firms have a way to go. I won't write a long essay on this. I just want to share one action we can immediately adopt that will make construction sites far safer. And there is data to support it.

Adopt the rule:

Only do work that is in the condition to be started and completed without interruption.

Following that rule will reduce exposure to hazards.

  • Ready work means just one round trip on a ladder to perform a task.
  • Ready work means trenches that are opened just long enough to perform a task.
  • Ready work eliminates making do — using the wrong tool, wrong method, wrong person — resulting in safer work conditions.

The key to improving safety is preparing the work and the people for doing the work. All it takes is a planning process for making work ready. More on that tomorrow.

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