With the massive demand for industrial and multi-family housing in the Valley, developers are under pressure to build faster than ever. However, as with most instances, if you try to rush, you may overlook vital construction safety details. Humans naturally take shortcuts when in a hurry. If not careful, safety measures and practices tend to be one of the first things put on the back burner.

For as long as construction has been around, there have been conflicts between scheduling and safety. In fact, the construction industry spends over $11 billion per year on work-related injuries. According to a large industrial medicine provider and East Coast law firm, construction-related injuries result in an average of 11 days away from work. Missing a skilled laborer for that long can have a significant impact on any schedule and will slow construction.

Ignoring construction safety to save time is often counterproductive, leading to fines and injuries that can ultimately halt a construction project. While they may seem time-consuming, there are simple safety precautions that can help keep a project on schedule and prevent delays.

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Dedicate a Safety Person

When trying to work as efficiently as possible, it is easy for employees to cut corners and miss things. It is highly recommended that construction projects have a dedicated safety person on site. While this does not always fall within budget, try to have at least one competent person on site dedicated to safety. OSHA defines a competent person as:

  • Being able to recognize hazards.
  • Being knowledgeable in how to remediate the recognized hazards.
  • Having the authority to do so, given by the employer.
  • Executing remediation.

These dedicated employees can keep a jobsite organized, monitor for injuries and illness, maintain equipment, and take other safety precautions that would otherwise be overlooked.

Another key factor is having supervisors with a high level of safety training. While everyone on site should be trained, having one person lead the charge in ensuring safety remains a priority throughout the project is critical. An OSHA 30-hour Construction Training for supervisors and OSHA 10-hour Construction training for other site staff is recommended.

Keep the Jobsite Clean

One of the easiest ways to save time and avoid injuries is to maintain a clean and organized site. Failing to do so can lead to slips, trips, and falls. A designated supervisor should conduct a 15-minute debris sweep at the start and end of each shift. All crew members should be required to follow the “clean-as-you-go” method, ensuring that waste is managed and tripping hazards are eliminated immediately.

Keep loading and unloading zones clear of debris. People often have the misconception that lost time is only due to halting projects or handling an injury; however, the time it takes to clear zones and organize adds up quickly. You do not want to spend 30 minutes clearing a space every time materials are delivered.

Keep Your Team Cool

This summer is predicted to be one of the hottest on record for Arizona; therefore, it is critical that you keep workers safe from the heat. Nothing slows down a worker like three-digit temperatures. Follow OSHA’s heat illness prevention plan:

  • Provide access to shade or cool-down areas when temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Have staff take a 10-15 minute break every hour. This helps them work more effectively and prevent heat illness.
  • Ensure all workers are drinking enough water (approximately 32 ounces of cool water per hour).

Heat stroke is a serious medical condition that can be fatal. If a worker suffers heat-related illness, the ensuing paperwork and the loss of the worker, and those assisting them, result in an extensive amount of missed time that could have been prevented by taking simple precautions.

Safety needs to remain a priority on any construction project, no matter the deadline. Keep a clean site, protect the team from heat, and ensure a competent person is overseeing safety. Invest in safety; it will save you time and money in the long run.

Author: Stu Kemppainen is the Managing Partner of Workplace Safety Specialists in Mesa. He has been providing safety solutions for contractors and construction firms for over 30 years.