Take Ownership of Safety Toolbox Talk

Take Ownership of Safety Toolbox Talk

Safety is one of the most important things to think about when on the jobsite. All workers should be able to recognize and identify common hazards.

You should also be aware of the various ways to mitigate these hazards, including by taking ownership.

Taking ownership versus recognizing hazards

To recognize a hazard and to take ownership of the hazard are two different actions.

If you recognize a potentially dangerous situation but don’t intervene to resolve it, your inaction could result in a serious injury to yourself or another person. Don’t be the person who says, “Oh, I noticed that issue earlier, and I knew someone would end up getting hurt”.

As soon as you see a problem onsite, take ownership and take the proper steps to correct it to help protect yourself and your coworkers.

Failure to manage responsibly

As soon as possible, notify your supervisor of any hazardous situation you identify. If you bring an issue to your supervisor's attention, they will likely make sure that it is quickly resolved, and no further action may be needed on your part.

However, there are times this isn't the case. Supervisors are human, just like everyone else, and they may forget about the hazard, especially if they are in the middle of a busy workday.

Follow up to check on progress, and remind them if the hazard is still present. If nothing is resolved after a reminder, escalate the issue to someone else. Find a different supervisor, contact your safety manager, or reach out to the next person in charge.

Do your part to help enforce best safe practices in your workplace. Don’t stop pursuing a resolution until the problem gets fixed for good.

Different situations that can arise

Construction is risky work. That's one reason it is so important to keep construction sites clean and organized.

When tools, equipment, and other items are left out and in the way, people may get hurt or seriously injured.

Some examples of hazards that could cause harm to workers due to clutter or disorganization are:

• Tools left out and getting tripped over

• Equipment not properly parked out of the way

• Materials left laying out leading to trip hazards

• Uneven surfaces that are not properly marked

• Restricted areas not marked or flagged

• Proper PPE not being worn

• Improper ventilation causing hazardous fumes

• Improper use of tools or materials

• Electrocution hazards

• Improper use of heavy equipment

• Spills not being cleaned promptly, resulting in falls

There are different types of hazards

There are 3 different main kinds of hazards to be aware of:

• Environmental hazards

• Physical hazards

• Health hazards

Each one poses different risks to crew members who are working on the jobsite. No matter what type of hazard you identify, you should take ownership and take action to resolve it immediately.

Eliminating hazards

The easiest way to prevent an accident or injury is by eliminating the hazard. Completely removing the hazard from the jobsite means no one can be negatively impacted.

Ways to ensure safety on constructions sites

Injuries and fatalities often happen because safety guidelines are ignored.

Proper training on guidelines, protocols, and precautions will help employees work more safely. Plus, they'll make better choices while on the job.

There are many steps that can be taken to make sure everyone is working efficiently and safely, including:

• Supervision - When workers are unsupervised, they sometimes try to cut corners. This doesn’t always result in an injury, but it does increase the risk.

• Inspection - Inspections of tools and equipment should be conducted routinely. This will decrease the chance of a worker using broken or damaged items, decreasing your risk of injuries.

• Signage - Post signs with rules and regulations as reminders of proper procedures and to encourage workers to follow them.

• Communication - When crew members communicate frequently and share information on safe practices or hazards encountered on the jobsite, it creates a safer working environment.

Reasons ownership is not taken

There are many reasons that an employee may not want to take ownership of a hazardous situation. They may be afraid they'll be blamed for the hazard. Or, they may fear they'll face repercussions from fellow employees who are involved, because they brought attention to someone else’s faults.

Don't let those fears hold you back from doing the right thing. When you bring attention to a hazard, you aren’t pointing fingers. It's about making sure the jobsite is a safe environment for all crew members present.

What taking ownership means

Taking ownership of a situation at work is about not waiting for someone else to step in. If you see a harmful situation occurring, take care of it immediately. Don’t wait! Prompt resolutions protect you and your coworkers.

If your supervisors are not responding to a hazard, go to the next manager in line. Find someone higher in rank and notify them of the situation.

Be an advocate for safety. Take ownership of hazardous situations and keep pushing the issue until it is resolved.