Workplace Distractions

Some workplace distractions and interruptions are unavoidable but others – if not properly
controlled or regulated -- could lead to injuries, lost productivity, and a decrease in worker morale.

Work interruptions are a distraction that can result in work errors or accidents. Before addressing or
responding to another person, workers should shut down or disengage any work tool, equipment, or
processes. Job training should include instructions not to interrupt others during a critical job phase
or process. Instruction manuals and procedural guidebooks should be kept on site to answer
frequently asked questions and thereby eliminate the need to interrupt or distract other workers.

External noise from tools, mobile equipment, and processes can be distracting in industrial and
construction work environments. In work situations where loud or constant noise is unavoidable,
hearing protection devices can eliminate or decrease unwanted and distracting noise. In other work
environments even not-so-loud sounds can be a distracting annoyance. Constantly ringing phones,
conversations, and loud faxes, copiers, and printers can distract workers from their job tasks or --
depending on the level or duration of the noise -- can contribute to workplace stress.

Electronic devices such as cell phones, IPODS, and PDAs can be the source of serious distractions in
some work environments. Check with your supervisor to find out if these electronics are allowed
where you work. If these devices are approved in your workplace, as a courtesy to your co-workers,
make sure you keep your cell phone on a low volume or silent when you work. To maximize work
safety and performance, turn email notifications off and disable instant messaging. Don’t answer the
phone or emails when you’re in the middle of a task – let it ring to voicemail then check messages
later -- preferably on your break time.

In some work environments wearing a headset with low volume music can be relaxing to workers
and help them to safely focus on their work. However, wearing headphones on a construction or
industrial site can be dangerous if it prevents workers from hearing warning signals, mobile
equipment backup alarms, and safety instructions.Walking around while talking on the phone or
wearing a headset distracts your attention from safety and could result in a slip or fall or cause you
to run into or be struck by something or someone.

Workplace distractions and interruptions are common, but training can help you remember to keep
your mind on the task at hand. Speak up about repeated and/or unsafe distractions and think and
take responsibility for not interrupting or distracting others.

The above evaluations and/or recommendations are for general guidance only and should not be
relied upon for legal compliance purposes. They are based solely on the information provided to us
and relate only to those conditions specifically discussed. We do not make any warranty, expressed
or implied, that your workplace is safe or healthful or that it complies with all laws, regulations or
standards.
teamwork in Construction Activities

A typical construction site includes many different trades, competing priorities, and pressing
deadlines. Good teamwork makes the workplace more efficient and safer for everyone on the
jobsite. Teamwork includes open communication and everyone contributing to improve the
workplace to safely and successfully achieve the construction goal.

Teamwork starts with pre-planning and organization. Setting clear expectations guides everyone to
work toward the common goal of a successful, safely built project. It is important for workers on the
jobsite to know:

The project’s priorities of safety, teamwork, and quality.

The required safe work practices so everyone follows the same rules on the job site.

Every person’s role and responsibilities so that workers can identify their resources and contacts.

The location of emergency equipment and the ability to operate it.

Good communication means that everyone can voice their opinion. Building trust ensures that
workers are comfortable sharing their suggestions and concerns. Workers on successful teams are
empowered to:

Participate in safety training, site inspections, and hazard identification.

Foster a sense of sharing and learning to improve the team and the work product.

Speak up and make suggestions to improve the worksite, equipment, or job processes.

Ask for training or guidance if there are questions or concerns about how to do a job safely.

Correct hazards immediately when it is safe to do so.

Remove defective tools and equipment out of service.

Call a “timeout” for safety when it’s necessary.

Complicated construction work tasks are simplified when people work together. Workers that watch
out for each other can complete more work safely and efficiently. Worksite teamwork includes:

Asking for help instead of taking shortcuts, unnecessary risks, or “winging” it.

Offering help when more hands or a better method can make the job safer.

Offering constructive suggestions when workers see unsafe behaviors in others.

Maintaining good housekeeping at all times, even when it’s someone else’s mess.

Cleaning the worksite and setting up equipment and supplies for the next shift’s success.
Good teams are built by sharing information and building trust. When individual workers make the
commitment to each other to be a team, injuries are reduced, and productivity and quality are
improved. Construction teamwork builds safety into every job to achieve successful projects.

The above evaluations and/or recommendations are for general guidance only and should not be
relied upon for legal compliance purposes. They are based solely on the information provided to us
and relate only to those conditions specifically discussed. We do not make any warranty, expressed
or implied, that your workplace is safe or healthful or that it complies with all laws, regulations or
standards.

Use Your Head, Wear Your Hard Hat

Your head is the most important part of your body. You think, feel, talk, smell, and hear with your head. Therefore, it makes sense that
you should protect your head from any injury.

Wearing a hard hat is the first line of defense against head injuries on the job. A hard hat can protect your head against the hazard of
falling material and guard against accidental bumping. The hard hat softens any blow to the head. It resists and deflects the blow and
distributes the impact over a large area. The hat’s suspension acts as a shock absorber.Even if the hat dents or shatters, it still takes some
of the force out of the blow and off your head. It can also shield your scalp, face, neck, and shoulders against spills or splashes.

Choose the hard hat most suitable for the work being performed and only wear approved hard hats manufactured to meet required
standards. These are made to give your head maximum protection. Make sure your hat fits correctly. Hats that fit right provide you with
the most comfort and protection.

The ability of a hard hat to protect a worker depends on the shock absorbing space between the shell and head by the suspension
provided. Therefore, it is important that sweat bands and suspension straps by properly adjusted to obtain the maximum protection.
Sunlight and heat can rot the sweatband and straps, so don’t leave your hard hat on the window ledge of your car. Take good care of
your hard hat. Don’t drop it, throw it or drill holes in it. Inspect your hard hat every day for cracks, gouges, and frays or breaks in the
straps.

Colors can be used to identify different crafts and supervisory personnel, and should be encouraged and given consideration when
purchasing such equipment. All levels of supervision should set the example by wearing hard hats. Observe and comply with "Hard Hat
Area” sites. Remember! A hard hat is a status symbol; it identifies a safe worker, one who believes in and practices safety.

The above evaluations and/or recommendations are for general guidance only and should not be relied upon for legal compliance
purposes. They are based solely on the information provided to us and relate only to those conditions specifically discussed. We do not
make any warranty, expressed or implied, that your workplace is safe or healthful or that it complies with all laws, regulations or
standards.

Spill Prevention and Response

Spills in the workplace cause hazards from slips and falls, exposure to the spilled material, and accidental release into the environment.
Know the proper storage, handling, use, and spill response for the materials in your workplace.

Get training on your worksite spill response plan and the materials that you use and store. Read the safety data sheets (SDS) that explain
correct spill response techniques, cleanup methods, and disposal. Know when it is safe for you to clean up a spill yourself and when to
call your supervisor, the company spill response team, or an outside resource for assistance. Know what equipment you will need to
clean-up properly. Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for spill response such as gloves, safety glasses, coveralls,
and/or respirators. Know where your spill response materials are located at work and how to use them.

In order to prevent spills, use good storage techniques. Place materials in compatible groups and appropriate storage containers.
Securely seal materials before storage. Keep materials sheltered and in the proper environment. Post material storage areas with spill
response procedures and emergency phone numbers.

Limit the amounts of new and hazardous materials stored on your site to minimize the risk and size of spills. Place materials out of the
lane of foot and vehicle traffic to prevent accidental spills. Store materials indoors and away from exterior doors and sewer drains to
prevent accidental releases to the environment. Consider double containers for materials stored in large quantities, that may create a
difficult cleanup task, or that can be toxic or hazardous even if spilled in small amounts.

When you move or dispense materials, handle them properly to prevent spills. Consider double containers when you are transporting
materials. Carry one item at a time when you are moving or dispensing chemicals. Place multiple items in a rolling cart or tray instead of
 trying to carry them all at once. Check storage equipment, material lines, and dispensing areas for signs of leaks and maintain this
equipment regularly. Never leave chemical filling stations unattended.

If you cause a spill or find a spill, immediately notify your supervisor and coworkers in the area. If the spilled material is flammable or
volatile, shut off flame sources and air the area out if it is safe to do so. If possible, protect floor drains or outside access areas from the
spill. Cordon off the spill area to prevent further access and potential exposures. If you or a coworker was exposed to the spilled
material, use emergency eye washes or showers for at least 15 minutes, get to a well-ventilated area, and seek medical attention if
needed.

Using your worksite spill response plan and information about the material, determine if the spill is small enough and of the type that
you can clean up yourself. Generally, spills of one cup or less can be wiped up with paper toweling or absorbent spill kit materials. Spills
of approximately one gallon can be cleaned up with spill kit materials such as spill socks, pads, or absorbents. If you use loose absorbent
materials, spread them around the spill and work toward the inside to reduce splashing or spreading the spill. Spills over 2 gallons in size
may require emergency cleanup from a worksite spill response team or an outside resource.

Use a brush or broom and a scoop or dustpan to gather spill absorbents and soaked towels, socks or pillows. Decontaminate the floor,
tools, and other surfaces that were exposed to the spill. Place used spill response materials, including contaminated PPE and other items,
in a double plastic bag and then place the bag inside a plastic or metal drum. Label these materials as hazardous waste along with the
date and the materials that were spilled. Arrange for proper storage and disposal of all spill materials.

Being Respectful to Coworkers Safety Talk

No matter what your job title is or what you are tasked to do at work, everyone should share a common goal to be respectful to one
another. Being respectful goes a long way in the workplace. Some of the many benefits include higher morale, better cohesiveness
between team members, and higher productivity. Being respectful to coworkers can also play a part in the effectiveness of the safety
program at your facility.

How Being Respectful Relates to Workplace Safety

Usually the hazards of the work being performed and the corresponding mitigation actions are discussed when talking about improving
safety on the job. However, there are also many factors that affect how effective a safety program is outside of just hazard recognition
and mitigating hazards. For example- respect, trust, and good communication go a long way in improving the safety at a worksite in a
variety of ways. A few quick benefits to consider:

1. Respect and good communication go hand in hand. When employees feel comfortable going up to a coworker or bringing a
problem to a supervisor, safety issues can be addressed quickly. In workplaces where there is a lack of respect many employees
will adopt a mindset of “it is not my problem” when safety issues arise. This mindset can come from wanting to avoid conflict or just
a plain dislike of the person who may be affected by the safety issue.
2. When employees treat one another with respect, issues such as workplace violence are far less likely to occur. While many acts of
violence in the workplace are committed by someone outside the company, many incidents occur between individuals within a
workplace. Many acts of violence between coworkers escalate overtime and seemingly small acts of disrespect or belittling can lead
to a very negative situation.
3. Employees who respect and trust one another can more easily focus on their work. When there is a lack of trust or respect, just
seeing a coworker that you view as negative can send your mind racing. Workplaces filled with disrespect and a lack of trust serve
as a huge disruption for safety as well as productivity.

Summary

Respect, good communication, and trust can be hard to fully quantify at times unlike certain safety statistics such as near misses or
recordable injuries. A workforce that exhibits these positive attributes is more likely to enjoy being at work than their counterparts who
work somewhere who do not experience the same type of work environment. While there is debate that higher morale equals less
injuries one thing is for certain- disrespect, poor communication, and a lack of trust will not improve the safety in a
workplace. Discussion point: How closely related do you think safety is with showing respect to coworkers?

Everyone is Responsible for the Culture

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Everyone is Responsible for the Culture Safety Talk

There is a common saying that safety is everyone’s responsibility. What about culture? What is culture and how does it affect safety and
the work environment as a whole?

What is Culture?
Culture can be defined many different ways. A basic definition is “culture is the character and personality of an organization”. An
interesting definition is provided by the CEO of AirBnb, Brian Chesky, in a letter about culture to his employees and why it is
important to a company. He defined culture as: “a shared way of doing something with passion”.

Combining these two definitions together may make for an even better explanation. Culture is how what you do and how you do it
and the effects it has on the character and personality of the organization as a whole and vice versa.
Building the Culture

In Chesky’s letter he goes on to discuss that building culture is done through living the core values of an organization. He states: “We
have the power, by living the (core) values, to build the culture. We also have the power, by breaking the values, to mess up the culture.
Each one of us has this opportunity, this burden.”

To further explain himself he discusses why culture is so important to a business. He states: “Why is culture so important to a business?
Here is a simple way to frame it. The stronger the culture, the less corporate process a company needs. When the culture is strong, you
can trust everyone to do the right thing. People can be independent and autonomous… Ever notice how families or tribes don’t require
much process? That is because there is such a strong trust and culture that it supersedes any process. In organizations (or even in a
society) where culture is weak, you need an abundance of heavy, precise rules and processes.”

Culture and Workplace Safety

Using the words written in this letter about building culture and the benefits of it we can apply it to workplace safety. A company that
truly takes action to ensure the safety of their employees in turn makes caring about employees’ well-being one of their core values.

Everyone plays a part in the culture on the job and building the culture (or breaking it). When it comes to safety, the value of caring
about your own well-being as well as those around you builds the culture. Actions such as following safety rules, safe work practices,
and stopping work to address hazards are some basic examples of living the core value of caring about everyone’s well-being on the
job. When employees do not want to follow the rules, put others at risk for injury, or take shortcuts then the culture is weakened.

You as an individual worker play a part in the larger culture of the company. If a large part of the workforce on a job is taking shortcuts
and ignoring basic safety rules what can be said about the culture there?

The Benefit of Building the Culture

There is a benefit to everyone at a work site when the culture is built on positive core values. Referring back to the letter, where the
CEO states: “The stronger the culture, the less corporate process a company needs. When the culture is strong, you can trust everyone
to do the right thing. People can be independent and autonomous.”

When the individuals of a workforce demonstrate that they are committed to living the value of caring for each other’s well-being (safety)
then there is much more autonomy and trust that is built. Meaning that rules and discipline are not needed to enforce safety; it becomes
what is done. This allows for the entire workforce to be able to enjoy a work environment that is more relaxed, respectful, and overall
enjoyable to work at compared to working in a place where there is no trust, no autonomy, and where heavy rules and processes are
relied on to attempt to force employees to take certain actions.

Summary

Culture is closely connected to safety on the job. When individuals chose to work safely and care about the well-being of each other the
culture can be strengthened. When a strong culture is in place through living the core values set by the company, everyone reaps the
benefit of working in a safer and more enjoyable workplace

Embracing Change in the Workplace Safety Talk

Change can be good or bad, depending on what the change is and more importantly, how you react to it. Change is a fact of life that is
inevitable and we all need to deal with it as best we can. Individuals who adapt and embrace the change are the ones who continue to
thrive; whether that is at home or in the workplace.

Change in the Workplace

For those of you (us) who have been in the same line of work for many years, you have seen a lot of changes. With ever improving
technologies and accessibility of information through the internet, mankind is moving at incredible speeds. Whether it is the use of
computers, improved technologies, law changes, schedule changes, shifts in business, and even the use of robots- there have been
drastic changes in the majority of workplaces over the last few decades.

Change in the Emphasis of Safety in the Workplace

An increased focus on safety is an example of change over the last few decades for the majority of workplaces. While everyone benefits
from companies wanting to avoid injuries, some individuals harp on the fact that “back in the day” there was no safety and a lot more
progress got done at work. While this is maybe true in some cases, the recent shift for focusing on safety rewards companies that care
for their employees. This not only keeps the workers healthy, but also makes good business sense for the company. A negative attitude
towards the change of increased emphasis on safety not only can lower morale of fellow coworkers, but it actually hurts not helps the
overall goals of the business. With all this change how will you adapt?

Embracing and Adapting to Change in the Workplace

Mentioned above, your success and happiness relating to changes in the workplace will directly depend on how you adapt to it. There
are always individuals who talk about the “old way” of doing things or how things were done “back in the day”. While this experience is
irreplaceable and will always hold value, it will only do so if you continue to adapt to the new technologies and the new ways of doing
things. Individuals who are stuck in the past and doing things the old way will be left in the dust of change. If the same individuals used
this critical experience and life lessons and applied it to the new changes in the workplace they will continue to be valuable employees.
Stay ahead of the new trends to figure out how you can apply what you have learned to the new paths of your career field or the job
market as a whole.

Summary

We cannot fight or slowdown change. All too often news stories are published about major businesses closing their doors for good such
as Sears recently announced they may be doing. Companies must embrace change to continue operations and their employees must
not only accept change, but think of how they can add value to the change on an individual level to continue to thrive themselves.

Taking Ownership Safety Talk

Much of the time spent talking about safety on the job is focused on educating workers to be able to recognize or identify hazards on the
job. Less time is spent discussing how to correctly mitigate those hazards. Part of correctly mitigating a hazard in the workplace is
taking ownership of it and seeing it through that it gets corrected.

Recognizing Versus Taking Ownership

There is a huge difference in a worker who is able to recognize a hazard and a worker who recognizes hazard and owns it until it is
corrected. You may have heard someone say after an incident occurs, “yeah I saw him doing that, I knew something was going to
happen” or “I knew someone was going to trip over that broken concrete at some point”. These statements show that the person saying
this recognized the hazard, but most likely stopped there. They identified it was a hazard, but they did not take ownership of the hazard
and follow through on making sure it gets corrected.

Management Failure

There are situations where a hazard is reported by a worker, but not fixed by management. In these cases it is often a failure by
management or the person above you who is responsible for taking your concern about a hazard and correcting it if needed. As the
worker there are still options for you if this occurs. It may be a case of the person who is responsible to fix the problem just simply
forgetting about it. As the worker on the ground near the hazard, remind them that it needs fixed. If it is a case of a supervisor not taking
the concern of a hazard seriously, then go to a different supervisor or a higher level of management. Having the mindset of “I did my
part” is not good enough when it leaves a hazard for others to be exposed to.

Summary

Safety in the workplace is everyone’s responsibility and injuries affect everyone in that workplace not just the person who gets hurt.
When you recognize a hazard do not just keep it to yourself. Doing this may protect you, but it leaves everyone else in that area
vulnerable to an injury or incident.

Discussion point:

-What is a hazard that people are likely to recognize in a workplace and think to themselves “it is not a big deal” or “someone else will
take care of it”?