Construction Global Magazine - October 2015

AS IF I needed more conviction about the devastating impact of workplace distractions, I came across this claim from Safety Services Company research: “Statistics show that distractions are a major culprit in many workplace injuries and fatalities.”

Yes, fatalities.

I’ve spent many years teaching office workers, so I know how today’s “Interruption Culture” destroys productivity, workplace interpersonal relationships, job performance, and job satisfaction in office situations.

So in workplaces like construction sites where the work is more physical, of course interruptions and their first cousin, distractions, would be more devastating.

“Injuries and fatalities.” The pain and sorrow behind that stat no doubt have a costly corollary in terms of insurance premiums, payouts, and penalties.

So clearly, it behoves physical work places, like construction sites, to be meticulously attentive to preventing distractions. Obviously it is an inconvenient truth but the question is how? When interruptions are woven into the fabric of today’s workplace culture, how do you make that happen?

Not surprisingly, the best method 7