Andy Erickson
Get them talking How do you get your crew involved in your daily pre-task hazard assessment?
Keep them talking Tell me about the form you and your crew are expected to fill out. What do you like / not like about it? Why do you think we ask you to complete this form?  What’s the purpose? Only one person can hold the pen and write on the form, but we want everyone to participate in the process.  How do you handle that? These forms are often a hassle when we do the same task day after day.  How do you make sure people don’t get complacent or “pencil whip” the form? What do you do before you sign off on the form? How closely do you review it?  Do you ask your crew questions about what they wrote on the form?
Points to consider Most companies and projects require a pre-task plan or jobsite hazard assessment be completed each morning, before anyone goes to work. Having one person fill out the form while the rest of the crew stands there is a waste of time! The best crews have a conversation and one team member captures their comments on the form:  the team reviews the plan for the day, and what might go wrong; the team walks the work area and points out hazards or spots where someone could get hurt. As foremen, we send a message by how we review the form before signing it off.  If we only focus on whether the form is filled out properly, we’re telling people that all we care about is the paperwork. The best foremen talk to everyone on the crew, asking them to explain the plan for the day, and the hazards they have identified.  The best foremen challenge their crew to fix the hazards – not just put them on the form! Show people that you care about them going home safe more than the paperwork.
Learn more Plan the Work and Work the Plan Can repetitive construction activities breed complacency? 5 Core Components of Effective Pre-Task Planning Analysis
Andy Erickson, Humanus Solutions, aerickson@humanus-solutions.com