Safety Net | July 2019

The Safety Net L O C AT I O N C O N S U LT I N G

DESIGN & ENGINEERING

DESIGN-BUILD

IT’S ALWAYS SAFETY FIRST. CONSTRUCTION & CONTRACTING

JULY 2019

VOLUME 13 ISSUE 7

Safety Tips

by ADT | www.adt.com/resources/4th-of-july-safety-tips

The start of summer is the perfect time to gather with family and friends for good food and fun times. This year celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in a safe way.

Our 4th of July safety tips cover a few key summer safety topics to keep you and your family safe this holiday.

Sparkler and Fireworks Safety More than 50,000 fires are caused by fireworks every year. Take the proper precautions when operating fireworks.

• Never disassemble or try to make your own fireworks.

• Don’t point sparklers or fireworks at yourself or others, especially while they’re being lit.

• Only light fireworks on the ground and in areas that are dry and fire resistant.

• Don’t attempt to light multiple devices at the same time.

• Never allow young children to handle fireworks or sparklers.

• Always keep a portable fire extinguisher close by. Also keep a water hose or buckets of water nearby to put out fires.

SAFETY FIRST. Austin employees have worked 2,786,410 hours without a Lost Time Accident through 4/2019.

Safety Tips

(continued)

Water Activity Safety As July is one of the hottest months of the year, many families turn to water activities to beat the heat. However, even fun water activities have serious risks if the proper precautions aren’t taken.

• Review safe boating practices.

• Never consume alcohol while driving a boat.

• Before boating, always check that there are enough life preservers on hand for every passenger.

• Set water safety rules for your family.

• Pools should be completely enclosed with a fence to restrict access to the area.

• Consider installing wireless outdoor sensors by pool that will alert you via phone or with a chime inside your home if the sensors are activated.

• Keep a first aid kit near the pool.

Grilling Safety July is one of the peak months for grilling fires. Enjoy grilling your favorite meals this summer while also keeping your family safe.

• Check gas grill hoses for cracks, holes and leaks.

• Keep children away from grills. Gas leaks, blocked tubes and propane tanks can be a cause of grill fires and explosions.

• Never grill indoors, in the garage, in any enclosed area or on a surface that might catch fire.

• Keep the grill at least two feet away from decks, siding, branches and any outdoor equipment that can catch fire quickly.

If you follow these simple 4th of July safety tips, your entire family will be sure to have a safe and memorable holiday.

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Sleep Better, Work Better National Safety Council | www.nsc.org/Portals/0/Documents/NSCDocuments_Corporate/NSM/2019/member/safetytalk-fatigue-english.pdf

For many of us, getting enough sleep every day is, unfortunately, rare. When we lose sleep one or two days in a row without catching up on those missed hours, we fall into a sleep debt. Sleep debt makes us fatigued, and fatigue is much more than feeling tired; it is an impairment that can put you and your coworkers at risk.

Researchers say you need seven to nine hours of restful sleep every day, but according to an NSC survey, 43 percent of working adults admit to sleeping less than seven hours a day. As a result, our workforce is increasingly fatigued, with one in four workers saying they have fallen asleep on the job in the past month. Often, people do not realize they are fatigued until they are nodding off, but impairment can occur much earlier. By the time you realize how tired you are, you could be dangerously impaired.

This makes fatigue a safety issue both inside and outside the workplace. Without proper sleep at home, you cannot give your best performance at work. Consequently, according to Injury FactsÂŽ, approximately 13 percent of work injuries could be attributed to sleep problems. You must learn to recognize your level of fatigue and take steps to improve it.

Get Better Sleep Just because you are in bed for seven to nine hours does not mean you are necessarily getting the sleep you need. Your bedroom should be designed with sleep in mind and you should leave any habits that might keep you awake in the other rooms of your home.

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Harmful to Sleep:

Helpful to Sleep:

• Staring at phones, TVs, tablets and other screens

• Establishing a family bedtime routine or communicating

• Lying awake in bed for too long • Uncomfortable bedroom conditions, including temperature • Distracting lights and sounds

with your family the importance of your sleep schedule • Going to sleep and waking at the same times each day, if possible • Getting up when you need to, not repeatedly hitting snooze

Stick With It Once you get into a positive sleep schedule, stick to it and be sure to prioritize your sleep going forward. If there is a TV show you like to watch, for example, but it airs after you plan to go to sleep, consider recording it or catching up on it the next day during your downtime.

Simple solutions like this can help you sleep better without sacrificing the things you enjoy.

Don’t give up on improving your sleep habits just because you hit a roadblock. If you aren’t making enough progress, consider talking to a medical professional to find out if something else is hampering your sleep. Seventy million Americans suffer from a sleep disorder, but the right treatment can help.

Accept No Substitutes for Good Sleep There is no substitute for good sleep. Though many of us use coffee or energy drinks to get an extra boost after waking, they cannot replace crucial hours of sleep. The same goes for our days off; don’t miss sleep now because you plan to sleep in over the weekend.

If your employer has a sleep health program, take advantage of it and learn how to get the sleep you need to stay safe. If no such program is available, advocate for one.

Some employees, including shift workers, may be at higher risk for fatigue and can especially benefit from a sleep health program. Just don’t forget your role in avoiding fatigue. Even if your employer offers resources and assistance, it is still up to you to put these habits into practice and make your sleep a priority each day, every day.

Take it Home Now that you are more familiar with fatigue risks, think about what you can do to help your loved ones get better sleep. Use the tips above to make bedrooms more conducive to sleep and to help create a family routine so everyone gets ready for bed at the right time. Teens and young children require different amounts of sleep than adults, so plan accordingly. With your help, your whole family can stay well-rested and safe.

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When Grieving Workers Return To Work: Study Shows Employer Support May Be Lacking National Safety Council | 04.18.19

Canterbury, England — Many people returning to work

to receive paid time off was one of their greatest concerns.

after the death of a loved one don’t receive adequate

Flexible work hours, acknowledgment of personal loss and

support from their employer, according to a study from

“a listening ear” are among the other supportive responses

Canterbury Christ Church University.

employers can give, the researchers found.

As part of the study, researchers reviewed literature

“In workplaces, there may be a lack of guidance on

published between 1995 and 2018 that explored workers’

how employers could support their employees during the

experiences during bereavement periods. They focused

grieving period and the return-to-work process,” Mary

mostly on employees’ perceptions on how they were

Ogungbeje, occupational health and safety research

treated during their absence and after returning to work.

manager at IOSH, said in the release. “Managers can

“The review shows that while various employers tried to show sympathy and flexibility to bereaved employees,

struggle to bring the subject up and may avoid the topic out of fear of saying something insensitive.”

others were found to be less responsive, with certain areas

She adds that it is important managers show bereaved

of workplace support being reported as ‘insufficient,’” an

employees empathy, and that both the employer and

April 12 press release from the Institution of Occupational

the worker can benefit from having a bereavement

Safety and Health states.

policy in place.

Specifically, some employers lacked long-term support

“Being able to use discretion, such as providing the option

practices, clarity about how much time off was allowed,

to work from home, flexible working hours, and reviewing

clear human resources guidance and understanding of

workloads and deadlines, empowers managers to be able

how to manage a bereaved worker’s performance.

to best support the bereaved employee.”

Many workers are required to resume their duties within several days of experiencing a personal loss, and the ability

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Enforcement OSHA QuickTake | 06.20.19 Four Contractors Cited Following Fall at Residential Construction Worksite OSHA issued a total of $220,114 in penalties and 12 citations to four Florida contractors after a worker was seriously injured in a fall. Southern Living Contractors Inc., Crown Roofing LLC, Paramount Drywall Inc., and Sunny Grove Landscaping and Nursery Inc. were cited for failing to provide fall protection, exposing workers to struck-by hazards, and permitting workers to climb a scaffold frame.

Contractors Cited for Exposing Workers to Asbestos While Restoring Kansas Library OSHA inspectors found that a restoration company and subcontractor failed to comply with asbestos removal standards. Belfor Property Restoration was fined $39,780 for three serious violations related to asbestos abatement. The subcontractor, Custom Crushing & Company, faces $193,596 in penalties for 23 serious violations, including failing to provide workers with respiratory protection, personal protective clothing, and training.

Nebraska Excavating Company Cited After Two Workers Injured in Trench Collapse T.H. Construction Co. faces $106,078 in penalties for failing to use protective systems after two workers were seriously injured when a trench collapsed.

Nebraska Steel Erection Company Cited After Worker Suffers Fatal Fall Daubert Construction was fined $19,890 for failing to protect workers from fall hazards after a worker suffered a fatal fall through an unguarded skylight.

OSHA Alert OSHA Alert | 06.20.19 Protect Workers Operating and Working Near Forklifts Forklifts are an essential piece of equipment in many workplaces, especially in warehousing and manufacturing. Although these vehicles make work more efficient, they can pose serious hazards to those operating or working near them. OSHA reminds employers and workers that these hazards can be prevented by following safe practices and ensuring that workers are properly trained.

Taking the following steps can protect workers from forklift hazards.

• Always wear seatbelts when operating a forklift.

• Never exceed the rated load and ensure loads are balanced.

• Make sure you have enough clearance when raising and loading materials.

• Watch for pedestrians and observe speed limits.

• Keep a safe distance from platform and ramp edges.

For more information on ways to keep workers safe while working with or around forklifts, visit OSHA’s Powered Industrial Trucks – Forklifts page.

OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program offers no-cost and confidential occupational safety and health compliance assistance to small- and medium-sized businesses. Consultation services are separate from enforcement and do not result in penalties or citations. The OSHA Training Institute Education Centers offer courses for workers, employers and managers on hazard recognition and abatement at convenient locations nationwide.

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What is a ‘Competent Person’?

OSHA’s requirements for the term extend beyond simply designating someone with the title National Safety Council | 06.01.12 | Kyle W. Morrison When a boss calls an employee a “competent person,” it is not necessarily a compliment – it is a legal obligation.

A competent person is an employee who is able to recognize hazards associated with a particular task and who has the ability to mitigate those hazards. Many OSHA construction standards require someone onsite – such as a foreman, supervisor or other employee – to be designated as a competent person.

However, OSHA does not have a specific standard regarding a competent person, which has led to some confusion.

“It’s a fairly misunderstood term,” said Phil Colleran, a Riverside, IL-based safety consultant specializing in construction and a former OSHA compliance officer. Some people may believe they can be considered a competent person because they attended a class or a boss arbitrarily assigned the title to them – although neither is necessarily the case, Colleran stated.

Knowledge and Action A competent person should not be chosen lightly, experts

This is where part of the confusion with the term resides, according to Cannon. “You can have an employee who’s competent, but who may lack the authority to take any corrective action,” he said. “Employers need to make sure the employee identified as a competent person has such authority granted to them.”

Find out what OSHA means by “competent person” in your industry.

say, because he or she needs to be qualified to identify the

Proper Person

hazards associated with a particular operation. For instance,

Because many different types of activities can take place

if work is being performed on scaffolding, the competent

on a worksite, a competent person must either have the

person must be knowledgeable about scaffolding hazards.

authority to make safety-related changes to those different

This knowledge can come from a person’s skills, experience

operations or know who can enforce those changes.

and training, according to Kevin Cannon, director of

For instance, imagine a site where some workers are

safety and health services with the Associated General

on a scaffold several yards downwind from a mason

Contractors of America in Arlington, VA. Training, which

subcontractor performing cutting work. Because the

Cannon called key, can provide the individual with

scaffold workers are being exposed to dust and other

information from particular manufacturers or on various

potentially hazardous debris from the masonry work, and

OSHA standards that will help him or her identify hazards.

the masons are not under direct control of the competent

Colleran warned against general “competent person training,” and stressed that fitting the description goes

person for the scaffolding work, the competent person must mitigate the situation by going to the general contractor.

beyond what is learned in a classroom. “Just because you

A large worksite with different operations going on at the

sat through a 10-hour course isn’t alone in determining your

same time also may require more than one competent

competency,” he said. “Competence is demonstrated,

person, Colleran suggested.

not certified.”

“There is nobody who is all-competent,” he said. “There are

Part of that demonstration entails the competent person

many types of competent persons based on the fact [that]

being able to immediately correct any hazards that may

there are many specialized activities out there, and you

appear. If that person is unable to do so, he or she would

can’t be competent in all fields.”

not fit the definition of competent person, Colleran said.

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Trenching and Excavation Safety Proper protective systems, competent person key to incident prevention National Safety Council | 09.23.18 | Kevin Druley

George Kennedy can recall multiple incidents involving unprotected workers and trench cave-ins. Unfortunately, some of those stories have tragic endings.

One worker was killed in a collapse after removing a trench shield to retrieve a shovel.

Another worker died after returning to an unprotected trench to grab a pack of cigarettes that had fallen from his pocket and a cave-in occurred.

Kennedy, vice president of safety for the National Utility Contractors Association, is among those working to raise trench safety awareness.

“They just should not take the chance of going into an unprotected trench for any reason for any period of time,” Kennedy said. “Even 30 seconds, a minute. That’s all it takes. Cave-ins happen in a fraction of a second. You turn around and it’s on you.”

Staying Protected OSHA defines an excavation as “any man-made cut, cavity, trench or depression in the earth’s surface formed by earth removal.” A trench is “a narrow underground excavation that is deeper than it is wide and is no wider than 15 feet.” The agency points out that 1 cubic yard of soil can weigh up to 3,000 pounds – approximately the weight of a small car.

The fatality rate for excavation work is 112 percent higher than the rate for general construction, OSHA data shows.

The agency lists “employee injury from collapse” as the primary hazard of excavation work and includes “no protective system” among the leading causes of worker injuries.

According to OSHA, 23 workers were killed in trench collapses in 2016, surpassing the combined total from 2014 and 2015. No matter the nature of the work or depth of the trench, excavations are unstable, experts note.

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“Employers need to recognize that any excavation has the potential for exposure to serious injury or fatality and have systems in place to verify that precautions are specifically identified and carried out consistently,” said Larry R. Russell, principal consultant at DEKRA Organizational Safety & Reliability.

OSHA requires a safe means of access or egress – such as ladders, steps and ramps – to be located within 25 feet of all workers for excavations 4 feet or deeper. Workers should keep heavy equipment away from trench edges, keep surcharge loads at least 2 feet from trench edges and never work under raised loads.

The OSHA standard for trenching and excavation – 29 CFR 1926.650-652, Subpart P – requires protective systems for trenches that are 5 feet or deeper, unless the excavation occurs in stable rock. A registered professional engineer must design protective systems for trenches that are at least 20 feet deep or approve tabulated data prepared for the system.

Following these guidelines helps limit struck-by incidents, Kennedy said. Wearing high-visibility clothing such as shirts, jackets, sweaters or vests can contribute to mitigating yet another hazard for workers in excavation: worker visibility.

In July, OSHA unveiled a free sticker intended to remind workers of the three primary protective systems: • Sloping (or benching). Cutting back the trench wall at an angle inclined away from the excavation.

• Shoring. Installing aluminum hydraulics or other types of supports to prevent cave-ins.

• Shielding. Using trench boxes or other supports to prevent cave-ins.

Joe Turner, director of engineering, research and product development at National Trench Safety, said serious injuries and fatalities in excavation work often result from one of two circumstances. “Either where there’s no shoring at all,” he said, “or where the contractor misapplies the shoring system – doesn’t do it properly, doesn’t do a job hazard analysis before they begin the shoring, that sort of thing.”

As Work Conditions Dictate Chris Cain, executive director of the Center for Construction Research and Training (also known as CPWR), stressed that excavations are dug in response to the needs of the worksite, and protective systems follow the same logic.

When choosing protective systems, a safety officer or competent person must consider various factors, including soil classification, depth of cut, water content of soil, weather- or climate-driven changes, surcharge loads, and other nearby operations. Not every protective system is suitable for each type of soil. Employers should ensure workers are trained on trenching hazards and develop an emergency action plan.

“We’ve made a lot of progress,” said Ron Chilton, president of the North American Excavation Shoring Association, “but we’re still a dangerous profession … The jobs are getting bigger and the excavations are getting larger and deeper and more complex.”

“The equipment swings around and the operator doesn’t know the [person] is there,” Kennedy said. “And lots of times, it’s due to the fact that they’re hard to see and they don’t make themselves visible to the operator.”

‘Extremely important to have a competent person’ Preplanning is paramount in excavation work. The designated competent person leading the operation takes a central role by mastering OSHA regulations and recognizing existing and potential hazards.

(For a more in-depth look at the responsibilities of a competent person, read “What is a ‘competent person’?” also in this issue.)

As required by Subpart P, the competent person must inspect trenches before work starts, as well as after events in which conditions change or hazards increase, such as rainstorms.

“Inspecting is a big deal for trenches, because the conditions change from day to day if a trench is open for a long period of time, or even for more than one day,” Cain said, adding that atmospheric hazards also might arise from work and could resemble those found in confined spaces.

A job near an underground natural gas line, for example, would warrant air sampling. Employers should call 811 before digging so utility workers can come out and mark the locations of underground lines.

Further, Cain said, crews working near old landfills should be mindful of a possible exposure to methane gas or hydrogen sulfide – an odiferous, toxic gas.

Russell recommends a competent person consult OSHA’s technical manual on hazard recognition in trenching and shoring.

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Questions a competent person should ask during a site assessment include: • Is the cut, cavity or depression a trench or an excavation? Is it more than 4 feet deep? Does it contain water?

• Are there adequate means of access and egress? Are there surface encumbrances or exposures to vehicular traffic? Are adjacent structures stabilized?

• Is equipment operating near the trench or excavation?

Does the equipment have warning systems?

• Does the trenching or excavation work require sloping,

Said Turner, “If that process is followed and it happens, it prevents workers from getting trapped and having caveins. If they don’t follow that process, if they don’t provide shoring, this is where you read about most of the deaths in excavations.”

Talking it Over Subpart P states that trench backfilling “shall progress together with the removal of support systems from excavations” as work nears its completion.

Once backfilling is finished, Cain recommends evaluating work during a post-job discussion.

shoring or shielding? If shielding is used, does the shield extend at least 18 inches above the surrounding area if it is sloped toward the excavation? Is the depth of the cut more than 2 feet below the bottom of the shield?

• Is emergency rescue equipment required?

• Is there documentation of the minimum daily excavation inspection?

“It’s extremely important to have a competent person on the job,” Kennedy said, “because they’re going to make sure they are using their protective system, that it is set up properly. And they’re making sure workers don’t take chances, ladders are set up, [excavated soil] piles are set back at least 2 feet from the edge of the excavation. All the things that go along with making sure the trench is safe before a worker goes into it.”

“After a significant job with significant safety risks, it’s always important to do some kind of look back and make sure that things went right,” Cain said. “And if things went wrong or there was evidence that things could be going wrong, just do a debrief and figure out with the crew, the competent person, the foreman and whoever the management is onsite. Ask, ‘How did it go? Was anything unexpected encountered? What could we have done to avoid that?’

“That type of thing is always a good activity to do. It could be a five-minute discussion right after a particularly hazardous job. It could actually make a difference in the next job or the job after that.”

OSHA Alert OSHA Alert | 06.20.19 Keep Trenches Safe for Workers Trench collapses and cave-ins are a serious threat to workers, but they can be prevented. OSHA reminds employers that worker safety is a priority, and the agency has resources available to protect workers.

The following safe work practices will help keep trenches safe for workers: • PREPARE a safe trench. Provide safe entry and exit before starting work. Keep materials at least two feet away from the edge.

• PROTECT workers from a cave-in by using protective systems. Sloping or benching trench walls, or shoring trench wall with supports, or shielding trench walls with trench boxes.

• INSPECT the trench for hazards. Look for standing water and other environmental hazards. Never enter a trench unless it has been inspected and approved by the competent person.

For more information on common hazards, visit OSHA’s Trenching and Excavation page.

Employers can also take advantage of OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program, which offers no-cost and confidential occupational safety and health services to small- and medium-sized businesses. Consultation services are separate from enforcement, and do not result in penalties or citations. Contact the local OSHA area office for assistance.

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Ladder Safety When someone says, “Not using the right tool for the job,” we think about a person using a flat screwdriver for a chisel.

Would this fall under the same category?

It would take me all day to set up a scaffold. I will be done in a couple of hours.

Nobody ordered a boom lift.

I let the neighbor borrow our ladder but, I’m only going to be here for a minute.

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Four Mindsets That Cause Accidents Onsite Safety | 03.01.18 | Lindsey Wilhite

Job site safety is an ever-present issue that is a constant threat in any environment and in any walk of life. The greatest way to prevent accidents is to train people how to reduce the risk to zero or how to put controls in place that will limit the possibility of an accident. Workplace mishaps can be dramatically reduced with the correct mindset and attitude by recognizing four common errors that open the door to injury.

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Rushing Employees often feel constant pressure to complete tasks as quickly as possible so they can move on to the next task or finish the day early. Rushing reduces the quality of workmanship and increases the chance of not following the correct safety steps to complete tasks. Accidents increase on Fridays, holiday weekends or when jobs are behind schedule. It’s important to remind employees that working safety is the first priority, even if it means finishing the job later.

Frustration Frustration is a mindset that almost everybody experiences at some point in life. Having the right tools to manage frustration and turn negatives into positives is key to being able to avoid accidents and injuries. Creating a workplace that prevents frustration from developing is key. Employees can get frustrated at poor procedures, bad communication, wrong or insufficient materials and problems at home. Not all situations can be managed and controlled, but hiring employees that can control their emotions is a valuable practice to any company.

Fatigue Fatigue greatly reduces production and performance. A tired driver is said to be as dangerous on the road as a drunk driver, which illustrates the dangers of fatigue. It is very important to identify when a worker is fatigued to take the correct cause of action. A great danger in hotter climates is heat stress, which causes fatigue and can result in death. Having heat stress safety plans are an essential training topic for all work forces.

To avoid fatigue, employees should not overwork or work overly long hours. Corporations must set realistic deadlines and attainable goals for employees.

Complacency Complacency can be the most dangerous mindset that results in an injury or accident. The first step to an accident involves the false belief that experience makes you invulnerable.

Accidents can happen to anyone at any time and one’s sense should always be finely tuned to each situation’s risks. A false sense of security is the result of poor training and following bad practices, which leads to accidents. Management needs to be quick to intervene when boredom results in complacency. These mindsets can cause or contribute to critical errors which increase the probability of injury: • Eyes not on task • Mind not on task • Walking into the line of fire • Losing balance, traction or grip

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OSHA Releases Suicide Prevention Website for Construction Industry OSHA | 06.11.19 | Shane Hedmond According to a 2016 study by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the construction industry sadly ranks first in total suicides and second in suicide rate compared to all other industries in the United States. In response, OSHA has recently published a webpage with resources to help prevent suicides in the construction industry.

At the top of the new “Preventing Suicides” webpage are three suicide prevention lifelines: • The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline • 1-800-273-TALK (8255) • https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ • Red Nacional de Prevencion del Suicido (Spanish Speaking) • 1-888-628-9454 • https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/help-yourself/en-espanol/ • Crisis Text Line • Text “hello” to 741741 • https://www.crisistextline.org/ In addition to the lifelines above, OSHA also included resources from trusted sources about suicide prevention and opioid deaths, like the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), the CDC’s Suicide Prevention Webpage, and Construction Working Minds, among others.

The Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CISP) is another great resource for suicide prevention. More than 75 industry groups, including Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC), Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA), and National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), banded together in 2016 to create the CISP to better address mental health issues among construction workers.

More Information: Preventing Suicides | OSHA

GET HELP NOW. If you’re having trouble coping with work-related stress, talk with someone who can help.

• Call 1-800-273-8255 • Para espańol 1-888-628-9454 • Online chat suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat

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Report: Some Construction Safety Programs Are ‘Just Talk’ ConstructionDive | 05.20.19 | Kim Slowey

In its “2019 People in Construction Report,” FireStarter

So, then, how can management get the message across

Speaking and Consulting discovered something troubling

to critical field supervisors and jobsite personnel about the

about safety practices in the construction industry: There

importance of a strict culture of safety?

are more construction professionals talking the talk than walking the walk.

Training and education is one approach. For instance, OSHA’s 30-hour training course covers the basics of

Out of those surveyed for the annual report, 90% said

construction safety and leaves no doubt about the

safety was a top priority. While only 85% of executive

regulations that jobsite personnel are expected to follow.

respondents expressed this sentiment, 97% of those in office

Contractors should reinforce and supplement what

operations and 93% of those in field supervision agreed.

employees learned in that course with regular onsite safety

Unfortunately, only 78% of participants said they work safely

meetings and site-specific training.

on a regular basis, and an even smaller percentage of field supervisors — 68% — could say the same. This means that only about two out of three jobsite supervisors — those directly responsible for ensuring the safest possible working conditions — are consistently working toward eliminating hazards and promoting best safety practices.

This apparent apathy on the part of so many construction professionals is disturbing for a few reasons, the report noted. First, this lack of vigilance around safety could be resulting in unnecessary jobsite accidents and injuries. In addition, contractors are scrambling for skilled workers and it is widely accepted that construction companies with the best safety records and practices are more attractive to workers. In a nutshell, employees most value the employers that value them. And this, FireStarter noted, leads to better company performance.

Another way to get across the importance of jobsite safety is to document it in a formal safety policy that everyone reads and signs off on. This should be part of every new employee’s orientation prior to starting work.

Accountability is also important. Field supervisors and everyone else working in both the field and office should know they will face repercussions, including dismissal, if they don’t follow the company safety policy.

Finally, the attitude of supervisors in the field starts with a display of executive buy-in. The more attention top management gives to providing a safe workplace, the more field supervisors are likely to follow suit. Some ways that executives can demonstrate that buy-in is by funding the necessary training programs, acknowledging the achievement of safety goals, and ensuring that the company budget includes a line item for new and updated safety and personal protective equipment.

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Can Anything Be Done To Prevent Gun Violence At Work?

MarketWatch | 06.04.19 | Meera Jagannathan

A gunman in Virginia Beach killed 12 people at work Friday after resigning from his job, reports say A longtime Virginia Beach municipal government employee opened fire at work Friday after submitting his resignation that morning, according to reports, killing 11 city employees and one contractor.

The gunman, who died after a shootout with police, had demonstrated “satisfactory” performance and “was in good standing within his department,” city manager Dave Hansen said. “There was absolutely no warning whatsoever,” public utilities account clerk Christi Dewar, who worked near the gunman, told the Washington Post.

The mass shooting marked the latest high-profile instance of workplace gun violence in America: In February, a recently fired worker killed five people at an Aurora, Ill., manufacturing plant. A 24-hour window in September saw shootings at a software company in Wisconsin, a municipal building in Pennsylvania and a Rite Aid distribution center in Maryland.

‘These incidents, while evoking lots of fear, are relatively rare. And because they’re so rare, they’re hard to study and they’re hard to predict.’

—Susan B. Sorenson, a professor of social policy at the University of Pennsylvania Such workplace mass shootings have pushed the issue of violence to the forefront of many employers’ minds. Once there were fire drills. Today, employees are also prepped on what to do if there’s an active shooter at work.

Researchers still “don’t know a lot about gun violence at work,” according to Susan B. Sorenson, a University of Pennsylvania professor of social policy, and a violenceprevention expert. “These incidents, while evoking lots of fear, are relatively rare,” Sorenson told MarketWatch. “And because they’re so rare, they’re hard to study and they’re hard to predict.”

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But all workplaces can take steps to help prevent tragedy,

that workplaces that permit employees to carry a firearm

experts say. Two prevailing myths about workplace

had nearly five-times greater odds of having a

violence are, “We know everybody; it can’t happen

workplace homicide compared to workplaces that

here,” and “There’s nothing we could do to prevent it;

prohibited weapons.”

these people just snap,” said Marisa Randazzo, the CEO of

Reports of all kinds of workplace violence have also

SIGMA Threat Management Associates and a former chief research psychologist for the U.S. Secret Service.

increased, according to the SHRM. Nearly half of SHRM members surveyed recently said their workplace had ever

We have grown depressingly accustomed to seeing news

experienced a workplace-violence incident, a jump from

items about students or workers in lockdown due to an

36% seven years earlier. That uptick could be explained

active shooter. “I feel we’re at risk of being at a point where

by “changing attitudes towards workplace behavior,”

people give up trying because they feel like it’s just an

SHRM suggested, as human-resources workers have grown

inevitable part of every day,” Randazzo, who also serves

to regard “more types of behavior as problematic and

as Georgetown University’s threat assessment director, told

indicative of future workplace violence.”

MarketWatch. “The fact is that it’s not.”

The most common circumstance for non-robbery

U.S. workplaces saw 458 homicides in 2017 and 500 in 2016,

workplace killings: arguments involving customers or

according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and 351

coworkers.

of those 2017 homicides involved shooting. There’s been

Every member of a company can do their part. Here’s how

little change in the number of workplaces homicides over the last decade: There were 468 in 2011. About one in four American workers is aware that any workplace-violence incident ever occurred where they work, according to a recent survey published by the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM).

employers, managers, workers and HR professionals can help prevent gun violence at work, according to experts:

Have more than a zero-tolerance policy.

Workplace-violence prevention shouldn’t be limited to traditional zero-tolerance policies for threats, fights and sexual harassment, said Matthew Doherty, a senior vice

The number of firearm workplace homicides rose 16.4%

president for threat and violence risk management at

11.2% between 2015 to 2016, while robbery crimes are

the security-consulting firm Hillard Heintze. “This goes

trending downward.

way beyond zero-tolerance policies,” Doherty told MarketWatch.

What’s more, firearm workplace homicides that aren’t

Educate employees on warning signs that could potentially

part of a robbery appear to be on the rise, according to

lead to a workplace-violence incident if left unchecked,

an analysis of 2011 to 2015 BLS data recently published in

Doherty said. These might include a marked change in

the journal Injury Epidemiology. Those instances now make

behavior, sudden withdrawal, depression or disgruntlement,

up nearly half of all workplace homicides with a firearm,

he said, none of which would fall under a typical zero-

as robbery crimes have trended downward. The number

tolerance policy.

of firearm workplace homicides increased 16.4% between 2014 and 2015 and increased another 11.2% between 2015 and 2016.

“From 2011 to 2016, the portion of workplace homicides committed with firearms was roughly 80%,” the authors

Educate employees on possible warning signs. These could include a marked change in behavior, sudden withdrawal, depression or disgruntlement.

found. “In one study analyzing workplace homicides in North Carolina from 1994 to 1998, the authors concluded

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Half of mass workplace shooters had already exhibited

workplace-violence prevention. Employees will be less

signs of a crisis, according to research by criminal justice

likely to speak up if they fear the company will overreact or

professors James Densley and Jillian Peterson, who study

punish the person they’re reporting, he added.

mass shooters in a Justice Department-funded project.

Establish mental-health support and policies and be

Create a relaxed, open and transparent work culture.

open about them.

Fostering a hostile, fearful environment to keep an eye out

Dvoskin recommends a “beneficent” response aimed at

for potential perpetrators doesn’t help. Randazzo warned

helping the person. That might involve referring them to

against having employees memorize a list of warning

an employee-assistance program, arranging for them to

signs or red flags, suggesting that could create a “chilling

receive mental-health care, transitioning them to a role

atmosphere” that erodes trust among coworkers. She

that better suits them, facilitating additional training or

recommended simply telling employees to speak up if they

mediating a dispute, he said. Even if the employee needs

see any behavior that makes them worry about their own

to be terminated, consider severance or outplacement

or someone else’s safety.

assistance, he said.

Don’t respond to reports in a punitive nature.

Show compassion rather than fear or recrimination.

While there may indeed be times you react with

Don’t ever disrespect the person or try to humiliate them,

termination, suspension or involvement of law enforcement

Dvoskin added. “You don’t help troubled people mainly to

after learning about an incident, “that shouldn’t be your

prevent gun violence — you help troubled people because

default reaction,” said Joel Dvoskin, a clinical and forensic

they need help,” Dvoskin said. “That helps your organization

psychologist at the University of Arizona who consults on

in a lot of ways,” including productivity and morale.

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Make people comfortable with reporting concerns.

“If the organization’s response is reflexively punitive, then the stakes are high if I really need to be sure that I’m right,” Dvoskin said. “If the response is not punitive — if it’s thoughtful and measured and helpful — then so what if I’m wrong?” Let workers know they won’t be thrown under the bus for reporting misbehavior. Ensure confidentiality and encourage them to be as accurate and detailed as possible in their report, Dvoskin said.

“This is not a whistleblowing exercise. This is not to get your coworker or an outsider in trouble,” Doherty said. “It’s to ensure the safety of all involved.”

“A threat-management team is exactly the team that can be trained to look at that and decide, ‘Yes, we need to take measures’ or ‘No, don’t need to worry about it,’” Randazzo said. Threat assessment can help in figuring out whether someone is on the path to violence, as well as in uncovering whatever problems or desperation they might be facing. “If we can figure out what’s underlying someone’s resorting to violence, then we can move them off the pathway,” she said.

Be aware of domestic-violence issues.

One in three workplace homicides among U.S. women between 2003 and 2008 was perpetrated by someone with

Even if you’re low on the totem pole

a personal relationship to the employee, according to one

“Never be afraid to speak up,” said Randazzo. “[It] doesn’t

Encourage employees to bring their protective orders to

matter what your position is in the company,” she said. “You may be the first to know about some troubling behavior, and you can make a difference by speaking up and letting someone know.”

If you don’t feel like you can tell your boss — or if it’s your boss’s behavior in question — try approaching corporate security, HR, an employee-relations representative or even local law enforcement, she said. Many companies’ whistleblower tip lines for fraud and mismanagement can also be used to report safety concerns.

2012 study, and a majority of those were intimate partners. the attention of the company and refer them to domestic violence advocacy resources, Doherty said.

Allow flexibility in whom employees can tell, Randazzo added: If they’re reluctant to disclose to their boss a restraining order against a former partner, for instance, they can go to corporate security, HR or someone in their employee-assistance program.

Take a climate survey To gauge how employees feel about issues like workplace safety and fairness. Keep the survey quick, Randazzo

Threat assessment can help figure out if someone is on

said, and be transparent about the results even if

the path to violence, as well as in uncovering whatever

they’re unflattering.

problems or desperation they might be facing.

Assemble a threat-management team.

If you work in HR Try to have a greater presence with staff. HR tends to see employees on their best and worst days, when they’re hired

Or at least outsource one. This multidisciplinary,

and fired, said Trisha Zulic, a special-expertise panelist for

collaborative effort among a company’s security team

SHRM. “Unfortunately, sometimes by just sitting in the office

(which may be aware of some incident involving the

all day, we only hear what we’re being told versus the

person), human resources department (which may be

actuality of what’s happening,” she said. “If we integrate

privy to something in the person’s personnel file) and legal

ourselves more,” Zulic added, “we might be able to get

department (which may know of an outside lawsuit or

people to open up, or to see why people are behaving in a

protective order) can also include senior leaders, local law

way they shouldn’t.”

enforcement, labor unions and other experts.

It’s good for different departments within a company to talk: The team can get to the bottom of whether someone engaged in threatening behavior and what, if anything, needs to be done.

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