Ready for Work Toolbox Talk

Ready for Work Safety Talk

In the construction industry, workplace safety should always be a priority. We talk about what you should be doing on the job to ensure your safety, but how can you best ensure the safety of your co-workers as well? The best method is to make sure you’re 100% ready to come to work in the first place.

There are many outside factors that can throw you off your game. You shouldn’t take those lightly, especially when you’re dealing with heavy machinery and potentially hazardous chemicals.

In this talk, we'll go over some of the reasons why you may not be ready to come to work.

Illness

In today’s day and age, making sure you come to work healthy is especially important. With COVID protocols in place, you should not come to work if you are dealing with a fever, fatigue, coughing, or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus. Coming to work while sick places those around you at risk.

Not only are you exposing them to the virus, but the virus can throw you off your game, placing those around you in danger. If you are unable to perform your duties at 100%, you can not only hurt yourself, but your co-workers as well.

This extends beyond COVID. Flu season has plagued construction sites for decades. It’s very easy to spread the flu once it has made its way into the ranks. If you feel as though you may be coming down with something, you should avoid the workplace as much as possible.

Fatigue

Fatigue is one of the biggest killers on jobsites across the country. Unfortunately, too many companies don’t take fatigue, and the threat it poses, seriously. Just by the nature of the job, construction work can be very tiring. You are often asked to complete tasks that require manual labor, and deadlines can lead to crunches. This is a recipe for fatigue.

Beyond work, you have to deal with the demands of your home life and social life. Because of this, many people may be too tired to perform their functions safely. Get at least six hours of sleep a night and eat a balanced diet to help combat the demands of a busy life. Drink caffeinated drinks or take a break and stretch when feeling tired on the job.

Medications

Changing your medications or adding a new one could affect how you feel and your level of fatigue. It often takes the body some time to adapt to a new medication. When you first start a new medication, it’s important that you try it off the job to see how it affects you.

Ask your doctor about all of the side effects. Make sure they understand the work you do as well as any other medications you take. Let a supervisor know if you are not feeling well due to medication. If you feel comfortable telling a coworker about what medication you are taking, let them know so they can keep an eye on you.

Stress

Stress from work demands, home demands, family problems, health problems, etc., affects people every day. A combination of high expectations for productivity and limited resources for completing work often lead to high stress levels on the job. It is important to handle stress in a constructive way. Exercising or taking time to enjoy hobbies can help relieve stress. Recognize when you are stressed and step away from the situation to take time to relax.

Workplace conflict

Dealing with issues in the workplace can make it difficult to come to work every day ready to contribute. In some cases, it may be better to take some time off in order to properly sort things out. However, the best course of action is to speak with someone in the company — specifically HR — if you are having an issue in the workplace.

Exposed to illness

The spread of illnesses like COVID-19 can create complications at work if too many employees have to take time off or don’t feel well. Call into work if you have been exposed to someone who may be sick, especially if that person has symptoms resembling COVID-19.

Again, if you are unsure, it’s best to err on the side of caution.

Family emergency

Emergencies happen from time to time. If you are dealing with a family emergency, it’s typically best to take some time off while things get situated. Remember, your job is just your job. At the end of the day, taking care of your family should be priority number one. If you’re dealing with a family emergency, do not hesitate to call off of work.

Mental health day

Sometimes, you just need a day off to watch out for yourself. Perhaps you're burnt out from work or home life and you need some time to catch up on sleep, run some errands or just relax. It's perfectly acceptable to need a day for yourself. And, if your boss is understanding, they'll know that this personal day can help you recharge and come back to the office with renewed energy.

House emergency

Sometimes, house emergencies happen, too. For example, perhaps you started a small fire by accident while making breakfast. Or the boiler broke. Or there was a gas leak. Or you found bed bugs all over the bedroom and the inspector is on their way over.

These are all legitimate house emergencies that warrant a day off from work.

Commute issue

Commuting complications are oftentimes not in your control. Perhaps the bus broke down, or the train was experiencing delays or there was an accident on your route and there's bumper-to-bumper traffic. At some point (if it's taking hours to get to work), you might need to call your boss and let them know that you're not able to make it that day.