Your construction team values speed over safety. How can you ensure they prioritize safety precautions?

Safety should always be the priority. An unsafe work environment increases the likelihood of work-related injuries or worse. Any accident that occurs on-site will result in delays and claims.

The first and foremost step is to let the team know that how important is the safety and the value of it. Everyone involved in the project needs to understand very clearly that Safety in any project should be a priority as it revolves around the people of the project. Training sessions should be held at frequent intervals to let everyone involved in the project understand about the safety process and procedures. The utmost authority is to be given to the safety inspectors and officers involved at site so that the full project team can work under their direction and not the other way around. Deployment of full time safety officers at projects should be mandatory.

Conduct regular training Enforce safety policies Provide proper equipment Promote a safety culture Perform safety audits Lead by example Awards and recognition for teams on leading with safety

Prior to commencing works, it’s important that ALL people who will be involved in construction attend safety webinars or seminars. And once the project begins, daily reminders on the importance of safety and precautions to take can be made during morning assembly. This guarantees that safety is constantly prioritised on projects

Frequent training sessions are essential to prioritize safety. By covering basic safety principles and updates to regulations, we keep our team informed and prepared. Hands-on training is particularly effective, allowing team members to practice safety measures in a controlled environment. Encouraging questions and discussions during these sessions ensures everyone understands the importance of safety and feels confident in executing procedures. Remember, continuous education and practice are key to maintaining a safe and productive worksite.

We always did daily briefings and we also do task specific briefings and we look for areas for improvement and get extra training into improve areas where independent health Saftey officers feel where we lack

Once people across levels are aligned with the safety focus and principles of the organization, they will follow by default. In this case, safe practices become part of the process of doing things. No one will think adherence to safety is an additional burden which will hamper speed of execution. To do the above, there should be proper orientation and training program on safety for employees. Last but not the least, leaders must demonstrate their commitment towards safety by walking the talk.

Introduction of daily tool box talk will Also help in reducing the act of accident on site. It is very important the daily tool box talk is discussed before going to site on daily basis

Most importantly the people should be rewarded for being near misses and UA/UC into the attention of the senior Management.These incidents enable the employees to learn much more.

Implementing incentive programs that reward safe behavior can significantly influence your team's priorities. For example, recognizing and rewarding employees who consistently wear their protective gear or suggest ways to improve safety protocols can motivate others to follow suit. These rewards can range from public recognition during team meetings to tangible benefits like bonuses or extra time off. By shifting the focus from merely completing tasks quickly to prioritizing safety, these incentives create a positive association with safe work practices, emphasizing their importance within the organization.

Incentives in construction projects are crucial for raising safety awareness. They motivate workers to adhere to safety protocols, reducing the likelihood of accidents. By recognizing and rewarding safe behavior, incentives foster a culture of safety and accountability. Ultimately, they lead to a more secure and efficient work environment.

Let’s face it, most tradesmen work in a thankless job, a company taking notice and giving a token of appreciation such as a top-of-the-line carbon hardhat to someone who demonstrates good safety practices is a way to keep them safe, and you will likely breed safety culture across the entire jobsite. $200 isn’t going to break the bank and he or she will wear that gift like a trophy. They will always share the story of how they got it. Any conversation about safety is and opportunity to teach or learn🇺🇸

To prioritize safety over speed, implement incentive programs that reward safety compliance rather than just productivity. Recognize and reward individuals or teams demonstrating exemplary safety practices, like reporting hazards or completing safety training. Tie bonuses or promotions to safety performance metrics, making safety a financially rewarding aspect of the job. This shift in focus motivates your team to prioritize safety without sacrificing project timelines entirely, as a safe job site is often a more efficient one.

Fostering an open dialogue about safety allows team members to express concerns and suggest improvements without fear of reprisal. This open communication channel can help identify potential hazards before they lead to accidents. Encourage your team to speak up about any shortcuts that compromise safety and discuss how these can be avoided while still maintaining efficiency. A culture of transparency and proactivity regarding safety can lead to innovative solutions that do not sacrifice speed for safety.

The necessary training and instructions must be conducted to make them understand the importance of safety and find effective ways that meet safety requirements and do not affect the team’s speed. This must be done within a framework of awareness of safety requirements.

Foster an environment where workers can communicate safety concerns without fear of repercussion. Holding daily briefings to discuss safety matters alongside project progress.

This is the most important thing you can do as a leader. Set the example. Never back up on safety. Stay the course and say what you mean, do what you say.

Ensuring that your construction team prioritizes safety requires a genuine belief in safety and leading by example. That is as essential as cliché. Here are some tips to convey the right message: - Get personally involved: regularly engage in 1-on-1 talks about safety; - Conduct safety-focused field walks: Aim solely safety, avoiding parallel subjects; - Consistently use PPEs: be impeccable on that and encourage workers to point out if you eventually slip; - Develop your risk perception: improve field sight and do not overlook safety deviations when you find any; - Recognize good practices: acknowledge and reward teams, individuals and initiatives; In sum, by embedding safety into your daily routines, everyone gets encouraged to join.

Every major construction company has a "safety leadership in the field" or similar initiative. The policy exists, but it is seldom prioritized by site leadership. The process involves having informal discussions with people doing work on the site. No policing or auditing, just 2 way discussions about the job being performed. Unsafe acts are corrected, and safe practices are acknowledged. And good ideas should be communicated back through the team. This is a very effective tool - not just for safety, but for team building, mutual respect and understanding people's motivations. If you are not using this tool you are missing out on an opportunity.

People work to sustain their lives and that of their families. While at site- as a consultant- people look up to you as how you do things in certain ways. Therefore maintaining safety protocols by myself and reminding workforce of their family, who are dependent to him , will have the biggest impact than trying to enforce them to site regulations.

Según mi experiencia, una acertada planificación es la clave para mantener un buen ritmo de avance sin dejar de lado la seguridad. Definir la secuencia de trabajo, evaluando los espacios, los equipos y el procedimiento de ejecución de las actividades, ayudará al equipo a identificar los peligros de tal manera que puedan tomarse las previsiones y reducir en lo posible la exposición del trabajador a riesgos de accidentes.

safety is a culture and can be built while practicing on a daily basis. safety has to start while conceptualization of the project and while finalisation of scope with equipment suppliers. although good suppliers always build safety features in their equipment, those who operate can also add value to improving the safety and protection on equipment. 80% of accident / incident happens because of unsafe act so people behaviour and training is an important.

Involving team members in the process of the constant evolution of safety and the importance of each contribution promotes a culture of learning and adaptation that enhances both safety and project efficiency. Continuous improvement in safety involves regularly reviewing and updating procedures in response to new challenges or incidents, including near-misses.

Schedule routine safety audits and inspections to identify hazards and ensure compliance with safety regulations. Address any issues promptly. Leadership should model safety-focused behaviors. Make safety part of the team's culture, where it is seen as just as important as meeting deadlines.

Continuous learning and upskilling is essential in order to address changes and newer technologies. Collaboration is a vital component in methods and practices where transparent communication between stakeholders benefits everyone

By implementing following strategies, construction teams can create a safety-focused environment where precautionary measures are prioritized over speed without compromising project timelines. Provide comprehensive safety training to all team members to ensure they understand the importance of following safety protocols. Encourage strong leadership at all levels of the project to set a positive example for adhering to safety precautions. Implement a system of accountability where team members are held responsible for any safety violations or negligence. Recognizing and rewarding safety-conscious behavior can help instill a culture where safety is valued as much as efficiency. Conduct regular safety inspections and checks .

Monitoring and Accountability: 1-Conduct regular safety audits and site inspections to ensure compliance with safety standards. 2- Encourage the reporting of near-misses and safety violations without fear of reprisal. Use this information to improve safety practices.

•Set clear safety objectives •Regularly identify safety hazards and incorporate them in your dynamic risk assessment •Provide mitigation strategies for all your identified safety hazards •Regularly monitor and enforce compliance •have a proactive approach than a reactive one •be open to suspend work in case of serious concerns until they’re addressed •train, empower and inform teams •encourage learning and continuous improvement

Some notes from my experience: Document the near miss events and make a big deal of it. Use visuals to explain what could happen if safety protocols are breached. Safety manager must report to the corporate office and not to the site management. Develop a culture where in safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Compare the costs. Add up the cost savings incurred by taking shortcuts (unsafe behavior) and getting the job done more quickly (speed), saving a couple days or even weeks on the schedule. Now compare that to the project being shut down for weeks or even months because of injury (or God forbid, fatality). Not to mention the human cost of lives lost and families devastated. The job will get done when it gets done.