Want to be More Productive? Safety and Productivity

by Jack Rubinger, freelance construction writer

Whether you work in an office environment or consult from your home, there are lots of ways to increase your productivity. Some people like to wake up an extra hour earlier. Others prefer refreshing naps. Some take walks. Some take a stroll to the coffee shop to refresh and revive. Being more productive is all about knowing yourself, your environment, expectations from team members and balancing friends and family.

Rest and relaxation play an important role in productivity. You’re just not at your best when you’re exhausted. The whole notion of pushing through it is harmful and foolish.

But when your work is outside at a construction or industrial site, the whole environment changes and workplace productivity and safety become interwoven.

Denise Duncan owns AT Industrial Products, a combustible dust cleaning equipment firm. She offered these business management project tips and suggestions which are geared to increasing a safe and productive environment. • Define your vital function. If the project isn't your vital function then figure out who else can perform the work required. Delegating can help increase productivity, too. • Limit unnecessary “time vampires” like social media during the day. • Block out time (30/60/90 minutes) where you work with no distractions.

Mute cell phone notifications, emails or remove the device from your vicinity altogether. You may need to go to another office, conference room or off-site location to reduce interruptions.

Yorlanda Fisher heads Warriors 4 Safety, a workplace safety training company. She advises construction companies about workplace safety best practices and project management. She talked about being the solution. “Sometimes safety professionals are labeled as individuals that tend to delay production. When you include your EHS professional during the planning stages of a project, it will go a long way in preventing some delays later in the project and increase productivity,” she said. “Having EHS support on-site as a resource during projects aid in the reduction of response time to compliance matters that could potentially delay the project,” she added.

Fisher advises her clients to have appropriately trained workers for the tasks being performed. “If this is a firsttime evolution for your company, seek out an adviser during the planning stages,” she said.

Finally, Fisher suggested finding out the state regulatory guidelines as well as the client’s EHS requirements prior to planning the project to ensure appropriate planning, preparation, and compliance.

“If these are covered, you should have a successful, well-managed and more productive process for projects — safe, on time and on budget,” she said.

David A. Ward Sr., National Accounts Safety Consultant at Sentry /Parker Services, takes a pragmatic and practical approach to workplace productivity focusing on double-checking project requirements way ahead of implementing construction and industrial projects.

Ward emphasized the importance of new orientation safety training and ensuring that emergency procedures are identified.

He stressed that all equipment operators should be trained and licensed and all contractors should complete the required safety training prior to the start of work. He added that all contractors should have the appropriate certificates of insurance. Finally, he suggested that employers conduct daily press work assessments and establish electrical safe work practices.

Lean consultant Steve Feltovich believes that job site safety should always be productivity priority #1. An accident of any kind will put a damper on production and send shock waves through the crew.

The “best practice” is never to take safety for granted. General managers need to be walking around and reminding people of safety first precautions, when they see a potential risk. Do not ever think that workers already know this, so your gentle reminders aren’t necessary. They could make the difference between a great day or a fatal one.

Productivity is always enhanced with thorough pre-planning, anticipation of what can go wrong and being prepared to make corrections when necessary. After a relaxing weekend, knowing that all your paperwork is in order the first thing Monday morning eliminates stress and uncertainty — two emotions that impact productivity.

Jack Rubinger is a freelance writer, with more than 10+ years of workplace safety and construction industry research and writing experience. Looking for an article on a specific construction topic? Contact: jackrubinger814@gmail.com or call 503-964-4877.