Building Safety Into Every Day

Second of two parts. See the first post from Nov. 16, 2016.

In 2016, Kraus-Anderson recorded more than 1.3 million worker hours without a lost-time accident. That safety performance reflected the participation of employees in the office and in the field.

The Safety Team discussed how site-specific planning, training and daily awareness supported safe work environments across projects and offices.

What Were the Site-Specific Safety Considerations at the KA Block?

Ethan Laubach, CHST, Safety Coordinator: Progress at the KA Block changed continuously, along with the work being performed and the safety considerations associated with that work.

The project team engaged Bob Durkee through OSHA consultation services to walk the site and help identify hazards. During a consultation on Oct. 24, Durkee walked the project with 17 foremen, superintendents and safety professionals.

Subcontractors were asked to deliver toolbox talks related to their work and project safety concerns.

Because the project environment changed frequently, key considerations included safe access to floors, protection around floor openings and falling-object prevention. In the office building, workers could not perform work on a floor until the deck above had been poured.

Limited space also required ongoing attention as materials and equipment moved throughout the project. For example, fire extinguishers could be pushed behind stored items and needed to be relocated to remain accessible.

Each structure held a monthly safety meeting that included subcontractor safety professionals and superintendents. The team also conducted monthly look-ahead meetings to plan for safety and completed jobsite walkthroughs to identify and discuss potential issues.

Learn more about the KA Block project and OSHA 30 training.

How Did the Safety Program Support Office Employees?

Jay Vander Leest: Like field employees, all office employees received safety orientation when they joined Kraus-Anderson. The safety program was reviewed, and employees watched the safety orientation video.

At the time, employees had viewed the video online 709 times, in addition to viewings through DVD distribution.

Office employees also received training during Safety Week. Daily topics were reviewed with office staff at each location, including ergonomics, stretching, back safety, hand-injury prevention, general office safety and safety at home.

The annual seminar and Kraus-Anderson University training also offered safety education for employees.

Read more about Construction Safety Week and building a culture of care and construction safety stewardship.