Safety tips from a site visit in Boston, Massachusetts
We’ve heard it said, “safety first”. Obviously, safety is not the be all and end-all of structural and interior build outs. While safety is of paramount importance, it requires a juggling act to ensure that safety does not become too laborious that build out work hardly gets done or on the flip side, safety becomes an afterthought, existing only on policy write ups. A balanced approach to safety recognizes safety as a business imperative that positively impacts the bottom-line, improves project margins and drives overall success.
In a quest to witness balanced safety practices in action, representatives from Sahihi Interior Builders conducted a site visit of a structural construction build out in Boston, MA. The objective was to witness first hand, practical safety measures that have been operationalized from policies based on the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). The OSHA-based policies outlined a range of practical safety measures for the various multi-disciplinary stakeholder groups (including employees, contractors, suppliers, inspectors, etc.) working at the site.
Below are some of the practical takeaways highlighting safety in action considerations for a structural or interior build out;
• Regular servicing of equipment not only reduces machinery down time but also results in fully functional teams given improved efficiency and worker
• Properly grounding equipment (e.g., cranes) mitigates against risks associated with a lightning strike
• Eliminating the use of A-frame ladders in favor of scaffolding which provides more stability and safety
• Conducting frequent site walk-throughs and leveraging technology to document and report safety findings
• Having proper signage to convey useful information e.g., location of fire department lock boxes, among other key details
• Practicing onsite safety drills so that in an emergency, workers know how to quickly and safely evacuate the premises and assemble at designated areas
• Enforcing proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) gear, which is a prerequisite to accessing the work site
• Maintaining a crane operated rescue cage at the construction site in case there’s a need to evacuate an injured worker safely and quickly
• Ensuring each shift is staffed with certified crane operators as a prerequisite to commencing work and performing on going work at the site
• Conducting periodic noise assessments to verify construction noise is within acceptable thresholds (construction noise levels should not exceed 85 decibels (dBA) during the designated shift hours)
• Requiring proper handling of dust emissions since exposure to certain construction dust particles has been linked to chronic diseases among construction workers. In addition, OSHA inspectors consider failure to adhere to dust emission protocols, a very serious violation
• Complying and cooperating with OSHA inspectors as part of scheduled or impromptu site visits conducted to identify unsafe working conditions and practices
• Reviewing contractor safety and performance ratings published in construction safety databases as a criteria for contracting as well as awarding safety scores that are commensurate with a contractor’s safety and performance delivery on a project
• Utilizing surveillance cameras mounted throughout the site to monitor materials and work progression
• Having adequate( and gender specific portable toilets) available at the site at a ratio of 1:10 (1 toilet per 10 workers of same gender) along with an adjacent hand washing station
• Providing pedestrian walk ways outfitted with a roof top to protect pedestrians from injuries emanating from flying objects (e.g., tools like hammers)
• Eliciting the help of police officers to assist with pedestrian safety and for traffic control near the site
• Having a designated group of workers responsible for disposing unwanted construction debris/ waste and tasked with organizing construction materials in bins so as to keep the site clean and orderly
• Addressing hydration, particularly during times of elevated temperatures. In addition to water, contractors may provide electrolyte — infused options
• Enforcing up-to-date certifications from workers at the site (e.g., requiring Welders have up-to-date Welder certifications) and monitoring worker participation in continuous learning
• Restricting the use of cell phones and cell phone head-sets at the construction site as use of these gadgets has been linked with reduced situational awareness at the site, making the site accident prone
• Enforcing mandatory breaks at designated times throughout the shift to maintain worker safety and productivity
Overall, the Boston site visit was a great opportunity for Sahihi representatives to witness first-hand, how the need for safety is ubiquitous, whether at a build out in the USA or in Kenya. This was a tremendous opportunity to step back, learn, exchange ideas as well as explore practical tips for operationalizing safety by designing policy that upholds safety regulations through practical safety measures.
