Training, Training, Training

Every day that I spend on a construction jobsite I am more convinced that the lack of adequate training on the part of contractors is the key element in construction accidents. I see workers everyday who try to do their jobs safely, but have no real idea of how to do things the safe way.

When, for example, I see a roofer wearing his safety harness backwards (with the d-ring in front), I see a worker who knows that he is supposed to be tied-off, but nobody showed him how. That is just wrong!

Training workers is not that difficult, if you know how. It doesn't take a long time or a classroom. It doesn't even take a group. Training can be accomplished very easily by taking one or two workers aside and teaching them the right way to tie-off, or the correct way to set up a ladder, etc. Documentation? That's easy too. Simply make a note in your daily log that you trained John Doe on the safe way to erect a step ladder.

For years, I have offered OSHA 10-hour classes for employees of my company (usually only 10 or 12 at a time), then offered to fill the rest of room with employees of subcontractors - free of charge. Very rarely do the subs take advantage of this offer.

There are also many free programs available for training too. Over the past several years, the AGC of America has been the recipient of an OSHA Susan Harwood Grant. Under that grant they developed a program called "Focus 4 for Construction" and taught that course free of charge all over the country. Currently, there is a push for combustible dust training and there are programs developed using Susan Harwood Grant money available for your use. If you are a trainer with your company, some of these can be found on YouTube - take a look! Actually, there are quite a few videos on YouTube that you might be able to use at your next training session.