Training is an essential part of every safety program. Crew training provides an opportunity to focus on workplace hazards, operations, procedures, tools, equipment, and employees' attitudes. There are two basic types of safety training: formal and what we call 'tailgate' meetings.
Walk around any jobsite on any given day–even the ones with well-trained and experienced work crews–and you are likely to see some relatively unsafe setup or dangerous situation waiting for trouble. Workers who know better will overlook safety because they think 'I'm just going onto the roof for a couple of minutes' or 'I've just got to make this one cut' or 'we'll have this framed in right after lunch–so let's leave it open.' Then, during lunch, it starts raining hard and everyone rushes to get their tools into the trailer and head home, leaving an unguarded stair opening or uncovered chimney hole waiting for somebody else to step through it.
Falls are one of leading causes of death among construction workers. In 2004, 1,224 construction workers died on the job, with 36 percent or 440 of those fatalities resulting from falls. Most falls are caused by uneven working surfaces, misuse of fall protection equipment, and human error. Studies have shown that the use of guardrails, fall arrest systems, covers, and controlled access zones can prevent many of these deaths and injuries.
Training is an essential part of every safety program. Crew training provides an opportunity to focus on workplace hazards, operations, procedures, tools, equipment, and employees' attitudes. There are two basic types of safety training: formal and what we call 'tailgate' meetings.
