How to Develop a Safety Culture

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How to Develop a Safety Culture

On-the-job accidents in the construction industry are on the rise, and OSHA has determined that the cause of the increase is due to work-safety violations. Most accidents that occur in the construction industry are serious or fatal, making it one of the most dangerous industries for workers. Developing a safety culture on your worksites should be your highest priority, and it should encompass everyone involved in each project at every level. Hiring safety consultants to assess your safety risk and provide safety training will let you achieve a safe culture while focusing on the project at hand.

How a Safety Consultant Can Help You Develop a Safety Culture

Safety consultants are professionals who have their credentials in a number of different areas of construction safety. The first step in developing a safety culture for your construction site is to hire a safety consultant who is a good match for your company and the types of projects you do. These are some additional ways that you can make safety a priority for every construction project:

  •        Start at the Pre-Planning Stage – Make safety a part of every phase of the project from the time it begins to take shape on paper until each area is under development. The safety consultant can evaluate your safety risk so that you can include all risk exposures into your plan.
  •        Establish a Safety Committee – From upper-level safety managers down, every member of the committee should have specific responsibilities that they discuss regularly to recognize any issues as they arise.
  •        Establish a Weekly Time for Review – Evaluate your training procedures, the safety of your existing equipment, and the need for upgrades on any safety equipment.

A Safety Consultant Can Improve Both Safety and Performance

Safety consultants are trained construction safety professionals who have the expertise to improve the operation of your machinery and the methods your employees use to operate it. Developing a safety culture in your construction company will not only reduce the risk of injuries and fatalities on your construction sites; it will also improve performance so that every project runs smoothly, for better use of your time and resources.  

The Top Five Most Dangerous Construction Hazards

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Let’s take a moment and examine the incidents that account for the largest share of work-related injuries on construction sites around the world. It’s important to be aware of potential hazards when formulating a safety plan for your construction site. This data has been collected from OSHA official statistics.

1. Falls

Falling is by far the most significant hazard of construction work. Falls consistently account for the greatest number of injuries and fatalities. Fortunately, there are many methods and implements that help mitigate the risk of fall-related injuries. Erecting guard rails is the easiest and most effective mitigator. Ensure that guard rails are present anywhere that a fall might occur. When working on scaffolding, ensure that it is regularly inspected to verify its integrity. If a ladder is required for a particular situation, ensure that the ladder selected is the appropriate length. Mitigating fall-related injuries is, fortunately, a fairly straight-forward affair. The most important part is maintaining awareness of the potential hazard and encouraging vigilance amongst your construction crew.

2. Scaffold Collapse

Closely related to fall injuries, scaffold collapse contributes an estimated 4,500 injuries and 50 fatalities each year. Selecting the right scaffolding for the height required is crucial. Ensure that any scaffolding erected can support its weight plus four times the maximum intended load. Always verify that the ground on which you intend to erect scaffolding is stable and solid. Never attempt to stabilize scaffolding with unstable objects, like loose bricks, concrete blocks, boxes or barrels. If part of the scaffold is damaged, repair or replace it immediately. Provide training for your employees about how to safely maneuver on scaffolding and about the potential safety hazards of its use.

3. Electric Shock

Electric shock is perilous because it is not as obvious as other hazards commonly found on a construction site. You can’t see it like you can see other hazards, like a potential fall or an unstable rigging. Electricity is all around a construction site: power lines both above on poles and buried underground, and the power cables for tools and equipment that might fray. Situational awareness is the greatest protection against electric shock. Always be aware of power lines around your position and current activity. Regularly inspect the power cords for any electrical equipment you use, and if they’re damaged, replace them promptly. Consciously protect electrical cables; be aware of and avoid sharp corners or projections. Always wear insulated gloves when doing electrical work. Never work on an electrical circuit until power is shut off and grounds are attached.

4. Trench Collapse

Trench collapse constitutes more than half of all trenching fatalities. Always ensure that the slope angles of your trench are at or below the maximum allowable slope for the material in which you are digging. Never enter an unprotected trench. Have a qualified individual regularly inspect your trench. Keep objects at least two feet back from the edge of the trench. If the trench is higher than three feet, make sure you make exits available, such as ladders, stairways or ramps, every 25 feet.

5. Impact

There’s a lot going on at your construction site, and it has many working parts all going at the same time. It can be difficult to keep track of where everyone is and what they’re doing. Impact injuries can occur at any time, usually because someone is where they shouldn’t be or is difficult to see. Make sure your workers never position themselves between moving and fixed objects, and always inspect chains and winches before use. Wear brightly-colored, high-visibility vests or clothing, and never leave unsecured objects in high places.

Awareness is the key to safety. If you know what to look for, these hazards should be completely avoidable. Our qualified safety consultants will inspect your construction site, outline potential hazards, train your construction crew and provide regular updates on operational changes specific to your site. Working together, we can ensure your construction work is as safe as it can be.

OSHA Compliance Training For Beginners

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OSHA compliance training is meant to provide safe working conditions by setting forth a list of standards that must be adhered to for compliance at your worksite. Construction Safety Experts provides the tools and assessments your business needs to improve safety at your site through OSHA compliance training.

What is OSHA Compliance Training?

The goal of OSHA Compliance Training is to ensure safety procedures are met at your worksite. In order to ensure that contractors are knowledgeable about safety procedures and workplace rights, OSHA requires that organizations comply with their set safety standards. Some of the topics include fall protection training, scaffolding, hazard communication, fire protection, and machine guarding.

OSHA Safety Training We Offer

Construction Safety Experts offers an array of training seminars and classes to ensure OSHA compliance. Here is a list of training seminars that we can offer your organization:

  • OSHA 10 and 30-hour seminars
  • MSHA part 46 and 48 training
  • Crane and rigging programs
  • Hazard communication
  • Scaffolding
  • Equipment operator training for cranes, forklifts, aerial lifts and heavy equipment
  • Excavation
  • Fall protection
  • Confined space
  • Electrical safety
  • Fire protection
  • Machine guarding

If you are unsure which seminars are best for you, our safety professionals can assist you by creating a custom-designed safety program which best suits your needs. Prepare your team today, and begin OSHA training with the leader in safety training. Simply contact Construction Safety Experts today to discuss our OSHA safety training to improve worksite safety for your organization.

How Heavy Equipment Training Improves Workplace Safety

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Heavy equipment operator training teaches members to operate heavy equipment safely and use their skills to avoid accidents and complete their work more efficiently. Most schools and institutions which offer heavy equipment operator training are expensive for your businesses and only gloss the surface of heavy equipment training.

At Construction Safety Experts, we pride ourselves on our safety training expertise and the variety of training programs that we offer, including heavy equipment safety training. One such program is our crane & rigging and safety management, a program designed to teach your contractors practical safety procedures. This program also includes comprehensive crane operator safety training and teaches safe rigging practices.

OSHA and MSHA Safety Training

Our OSHA training program is a customizable safety training seminar which covers a wide range of safety topics, including heavy equipment training. This program also includes OSHA 10 and 30-hour seminars, MSHA part 46 and 48 training, hazard communication, and much more.

We also offer customized OSHA and MSHA training via our on-site safety professionals, either for short or long-term assignments, to ensure that your team meets safety standards and remains compliant.

Construction Safety Experts is an approved MSHA instructor. We offer a variety of services to train miners. These services include:

  • Written 30 CFR Part 46 & Part 48 Direct miner training plans
  • Part 46 & 48 Surface Training
  • New Miner Training
  • Newly Hired Experienced Miner Training
  • Annual Refresher Training
  • New Task Training
  • Site Specific Hazard Awareness Training

Contact Construction Safety Experts today to discuss heavy equipment training and how our safety professionals can help you promote a safety culture at your worksite.

What’s On Your Crane Inspection Checklist?

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Does your checklist provide a daily, weekly, monthly checklist?  Are your contractors performing the proper inspections before and after each shift? A crane inspection checklist keeps your workers safe and ensures your machinery is running properly.

Crane Inspection checklists are of the utmost importance for following safety protocols at your worksite. Keeping a crane inspection checklist is not only a necessary safety protocol, it’s also an effective method for ensuring compliance with OSHA requirements, which requires inspection of problem areas to ensure safe operation.

The purpose of the crane inspection checklist is to maintain the crane’s efficiency while protecting contractors at your worksite. Normally, a crane inspection checklist begins with a walk around inspection. Daily inspections should begin at the beginning of each shift, with the crane operator checking for defects using the checklist and walk around inspection. Upon detection of problems, crane operators can then forward the daily crane inspection checklist to their supervisor, ensuring proper protocol is followed. Operators and supervisors should make it a habit to review prior inspection checklists before operation of the crane including maintenance requirements.

There should also be a periodic check, most often on a monthly basis, to address any longstanding issues with the crane. These issues may include repair and replacement part determinations, including noting structural defects in the crane.

Construction Safety Experts can provide an in-depth analysis of your cranes, providing documentation with noted malfunctions, structural defects, and repair requirements. Our safety specialists are trained to find even the smallest issues which may cause issues in the future. For more information on crane inspections, including crane inspection checklists, contact Construction Safety Experts today.

Accredited Crane Operator Training

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At Construction Safety Experts, our aim is to provide high-quality training and materials, including accredited crane operator training, to ensure safety on the job. Construction Safety Experts utilizes the National Certification Program offered by the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) which meets OSHA regulations. We prepare candidates by providing NCCCO training which includes a written examination preparation course, a written examination, and a practical examination to ensure comprehension. Find out more about our crane operator training courses and how they can save you money and ensure retention of the course materials.

Affordable and Accredited Crane Operator Training

Our course is designed to inform students on key safety procedures as outlined in the National Certification Program. Similar courses offered by other training organization take up to four days at a significant cost. In comparison, we can conduct a comprehensive preparation course in just one day, so your business saves time and money while ensuring that your crane operators are knowledgeable about safety procedures.

By providing an accredited crane operating training course to your crane operators, you can fast-track your worksite efficiency while reducing risk and enhancing safety procedures. Your staff’s safety, and the safety of the public, is of the utmost importance, and Construction Safety Experts provides the essentials you need to access and build on the knowledge and skills required by OSHA to perform safe crane operations.

Our one-day crane operator preparation class includes the following:

  • Load charts
  • Daily inspection
  • Crane set up
  • Leveling the crane
  • OSHA and ANSI standards
  • Electrical hazard awareness
  • Operating practices
  • Operator responsibilities
  • Static/dynamic loads
  • Center of gravity
  • Radius, boom length, boom angles
  • Rated strength
  • Stability
  • Side loading
  • Load chart interpretations and calculations
  • Multi crane lifts
  • Pick and carry practices
  • Outrigger usage
  • Wire rope
  • Safe rigging practices
  • Rigging and hardware inspections
  • Personnel platforms
  • Critical lifts
  • Hand and radio signal

With the help of Construction Safety Experts, you can provide accredited crane operator certifications to your entire staff at half the cost of traditional courses. Contact Construction Safety Experts today to learn more about our crane operator courses and NCCCO training. Call 1-866-463-0669 to learn more and speak with a representative today.

Planning Projects Safely

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Plan your projects safely by using safety training services and on-site safety training provided by Construction Safety Experts. Our team of safety experts work with your company to educate and train your staff, so they adhere to the safety standards your business adopts. We also offer a collection of accredited certification programs and training programs to prepare your staff for further examinations.

The Easiest Way To Plan Projects Safely

Perhaps the easiest way to plan projects safely is with the assistance of an on-site safety professional. We match you with certified professionals specializing in various safety fields to suit the needs of your company. Safety professionals ensure that your project stays on track while your contractors adhere to the best safety practices. With the help of an on-site safety professional, you can prevent accidents on the job and prepare your contractors for the risks and hazards in their field.

Certifications and Safety Training

Construction Safety Experts provides high-quality courses and certification programs for your contractors, so your business adheres to industry regulations and prevents accidents on the job. Some of the training courses we provide are as follows:

MSHA Safety Training

We provide approved MSHA instructors to prepare miners for advanced mine safety tactics in a broad range of safety topics. We offer safety training for MSHA part 46 and MSHA part 48 and other training such as hazard awareness.

OSHA Training

Construction Safety Experts offers an extensive OSHA safety training program which includes OSHA 10 and 30-hour seminars, crane and rigging programs, fall protection training, hazard communication, and more.

Construction Safety Experts offers accredited certification programs to ensure compliance and expand the safety practices on your project site. Some of the certification programs we offer include:

AISC Certification

Our American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) Certification prepares contractors in the steel industry for equipment policies and safety procedures. The AISC certification program can prepare businesses for the application process and subsequent audits by providing mock auditing services and training.

Crane Operator Certification

We provide accredited crane operator training programs that meet the conditions outlined in the National Certification Program, preparing candidates for their CCO certification examinations.

Contact Construction Safety Experts today, and speak with a representative about your safety training needs to customize a solution for your needs. With the help of Construction Safety Experts, you can ensure safe projects on your worksite.

Assessing Risk Through Safety Consulting

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Hire a safety consultant to assess risk and prevent injury on the job. Our safety consultants are qualified experts in their field, bringing their experience and expertise to your job site to access the greatest risks while providing solutions to remedy hazardous conditions.

How Safety Consultants Access Risk

A safety training consultant surveys your worksite for possible hazardous conditions and provides training to your contractors. Their job is to educate you and your workers on planning a safe project and objectives, including a risk assessment analysis. Our safety consultants locate dangerous areas on your project site. Risk can be assessed depending on the type of job performed and its requirements. For example, a high-risk job, like working on a rig, has different safety requirements than a lower risk job. A safety training consultant can pinpoint the level of risk for each position and provide training and risk assessment to modify conditions.

Our safety consultants help determine the risks associated with your project, first by examining the likelihood of an accident. These factors are dependent on the environment and jobs required during your project. Our safety consultants can then assist you with planning in the event of an accident, provide hazard assessment, and devise solutions to ensure a safe work environment.

Providing A Safe Workplace

Safety consulting can ensure a safe workplace. Can your contractors work safely, make it to their worksites safely, and do they know the protocols in case of emergency? Our safety training consultants help you answer all of these questions and design a customized plan for your needs.

Construction Safety Experts provides the following safety consulting services to our clients:

  • Safety Staffing
  • Project safety professionals for short or long-term assignments
  • Expert witness
  • Crane and rigging safety programs
  • Project-specific safety plans
  • Worksite audits
  • Accident investigation
  • Health and safety handbooks
  • Hazard communication
  • OSHA star programs

In addition to our safety consulting services, Construction Safety Experts helps to maintain your project’s operations through our project management services and safety consultancy. Contact Construction Safety Experts today to learn more about assessing risk with our safety consulting services and speak with a representative about your project.

How to Prevent Accidents on the Job With Safety Consultants

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Hiring a safety consultant can prevent accidents on the job, ensuring that your project runs smoothly. Construction Safety Experts provides a broad range of services, including on-site safety program consultants, to address any safety issues your project might face. We offer training and worksite audits to enhance the safety culture on the job, and we work with you to determine which services can benefit your company the most.

Our safety program consultants offer many types of services to address safety concerns during your project. Some of these services include:

  • Safety Staffing
  • Project safety professionals for short or long-term assignments
  • Expert witness
  • Crane and rigging safety programs
  • Project-specific safety plans
  • Work site audits
  • Accident investigation
  • Health and safety handbooks
  • Hazard communication
  • OSHA star programs

What Our Safety Consultants Do

Our safety program consultants help address issues with your current operations and formulate customized safety programs for your contractors. We start by providing a risk assessment based on your current safety programs. For example, Construction Safety Experts offers crane & rigging and safety management services to certify and train your contractors on how to safely operate cranes, avoid accidents, and maintain their respective responsibilities while on the job.

Our safety consultants can provide in-depth risk assessments by investigating past accidents and evaluating job sites, and we offer program development through written manuals. Our on-site safety professionals work closely with your project managers to create a customized solution for your team.

How Hiring A Safety Consultant Reduces Costs

Preventing future accidents saves your company money and makes for a superior work environment wherein your contractors feel safe and prepared. In the event of an accident, the training we provide ensures that your projects experience little downtime and accidents are resolved or prevented in a professional manner. By limiting downtime and preventing accidents before they occur, you drastically reduce the financial burden an accident poses for your company and the danger to your staff.

The Benefits of On-Site Safety Professionals

Our experience has shown us that hiring a safety consultant can save your business time and money. Why spend needless hours scouring directories for an on-site safety professional? At Construction Safety Experts, we offer customized programs with decades of experience. Our safety consultants will evaluate the current conditions of your safety program and consult with you to determine the needs of your company and the programs your team needs to succeed. Call us today to schedule a consultation and let us develop the perfect safety program for you.

Fall Protection Training

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Understanding Fall Protection Training and Why it Matters

At Construction Safety Experts, we are committed to providing the necessary resources to your contractors and project managers to prevent falls through fall protection training and education. The first step in preventing falls is to explain how and why falls occur and how to prevent them based on your job site. Our on-site safety professionals work closely with you and your contractors to educate you and develop the best fall protection system based on your work site evaluation.

What is Fall Protection Training?

Fall protection training uses carefully designed materials and equipment to prevent falls at your job site. Most often, the equipment we refer to is a full body harness, fall arrest system and anchorage point to slow and arrest a body in the event of a fall. We know that the safety of your workers is of the utmost importance, and that’s why construction safety experts work closely with project managers and contractors to develop a customized solution based on the environment and structure of your work site.

Fall Protection Training reduces the risks of working at dangerous heights or on poorly constructed supports. Our safety experts assess the risk of falls and provide the proper materials to train your workers accordingly.

Many workers do not understand the basics of fall protection. This is detrimental to these workers, as it places them at an increased risk of falls, and it is not good for business, as it slows the productivity of your work site.

5 Fall Protection Basics

  • Equipment must regularly be inspected for wear and tear. Check often and early to replace equipment that could result in injury.
  • Understand the dangers of falls on the job. Falls are one of the leading causes of fatal accidents in the construction industry and also one of the most preventable.
  • Different fall protection equipment is available given the size, complexity, and structure of a work site. Educate workers on the proper equipment to use in various scenarios.
  • Aside from personal fall protection devices, guardrails are required depending on height.
  • Have a plan in the event of a fall, including retrieval, written down in the case of emergency.

Construction Safety Experts provides fall protection training through various source material and with the assistance of our on-site safety professionals. Our company has decades of experience in safety procedures and fall protection systems.

Find out more about Construction Safety Experts, and contact us today to speak with a fall protection specialist about the services we can provide your company.