Unsafe Conditions Toolbox Talk

Unsafe Conditions Safety Talk

Construction sites are hazardous environments with many unsafe conditions. The combination of working outdoors and working with power tools, moving machinery, working heights or deep excavations, and the sheer tonnage of construction materials being used present any number of opportunities for accidents to happen.

To help protect yourself and prevent incidents, there are some basic unsafe conditions in the construction site that everyone should recognize.

2 Common types of unsafe conditions on a construction site

The broad categories of unsafe conditions (or hazards) to be aware of on construction sites are:

• Slips

• Trips

• Falls

• Pinch Points

According to workman compensation claims and OSHA statistics, these hazard categories are responsible for the majority of construction worker injuries and missed work each year.

Slips, trips, and falls

Slips, trips, and falls are the number one cause of injuries on construction sites. Most of these incidents are the result of unsafe conditions in the construction zone itself.

Accidental spills, rain, poor housekeeping habits, and other obstacles lead to slippery or cluttered surfaces that make slips and falls more likely. Additionally, many construction workers must carry heavy materials and tools by hand throughout the jobsite, increasing the chance someone will lose their balance and injure themselves or others.

Trips and falls also frequently happen in areas where there is an unmarked, unexpected change in elevation on the walking surface.

Some common trip hazards include:

• Clutter

• Spills

• Poor placement of tools or materials

• Shadows

• Glare

• Unprotected edges

Falls don’t have to be the result of a slip or trip. Construction workers are at high risk for injury from falls when working with:

• Ladders

• Scaffolds

• Catwalks

• Cherry pickers

• Steep roofs

• Unprotected ledges

• Deep excavations

• Drilling platforms

Injuries from a fall can be severe, and a fall may even lead to fatality.

Pinch points

Think of pinch points as any space where crush injuries are likely to happen. These are injuries where a body part is pinched or crushed between a movable object and a stationary one. Construction sites are areas of controlled chaos, filled with moving machinery with blind spots and heavy loads of materials to stay aware of.

Heavy loads may cause stability issues when they are being lifted, often shifting unexpectedly after leaving the ground. Dropped and shifted loads, improper lifting devices, and other situations can crush workers between the load and the ground or other immovable structures.

Most machines and many tools present unsafe conditions for pinch injuries. When using machines like press breaks, forming presses, hydraulic lifts and jacks, pipe benders, lift gates, and forklifts your hands and feet can accidentally be crushed if the machine is used in an unsafe manner.

Take action for prevention and safety

So many accidents and resulting injuries can be prevented simply by increasing your awareness. Recognizing the potential for unsafe conditions is the key to following better safety practices.

Here are some general guidelines for improving the safety of your construction site and preventing injuries to yourself and others.

Scheduled safety breaks

Make regularly scheduled safety checks a part of the daily schedule. Take a minute to evaluate the condition of your work area and your crew members.

Regular and repeated safety inspections help keep safety top of mind and allow everyone time to focus on safety as a priority. If you identify any hazards, they should be resolved immediately before work continues. Conditions like spills and clutter need to be cleaned up or cleared away as soon as possible. Unmarked elevation changes or unsecured edges need to be marked and secured.

If unsafe conditions cannot be corrected at the time of identification, do not continue working around them. Notify your supervisor and only continue or complete the task when the hazard is resolved.

Designate areas for scrap and trash

Many times on construction sites, where ever something lands is where it stays. This is how scraps and trash become clutter. If it is not being used in the near future, all scrap material and supply materials should be moved to designated spaces or containers away from high traffic areas.

Everything has its place even on the construction site or in the warehouse. Tools, materials, supplies, trash...if it is not being used, put it in its proper place. Containers get kicked, buckets get knocked over, people walk into and trip over things that someone else left in the way every day. Safe handling protocol includes putting things where they belong when not in use.

Preplan to work safely

Preplanning for safer construction sites includes having the proper resources available for the work to be done safely. These resources include:

• Ongoing safety training

• Equipment

• Tools

• People

• PPE

• Lighting

• Barricades and safety cones

• Rigging

• Steel toed boots

• Indicator tape

• Spill kits

• Bright paint

• Accident protocols and first aid kits

Stop work and involve other personnel to make corrections to an unsafe condition. Regrettably, many unsafe conditions result when someone tries to make the best of a bad situation or focuses on getting the job done quickly instead of doing the job safely.

Have back-up lighting on hand

Your work hours may start or go beyond daylight hours. If this is common in your time zone, supplemental lighting should be required on your construction site for safety and productivity.

Be aware of shadows and keep dark areas well lit. The more we can see, the more aware we can all be. Never go into a dim or dark area without lighting like a flashlight or work lantern.

Even during the light of high noon, crawlspaces and attics can be pitch black, so keep a torch handy. Many times people get in a rush and walk quickly into a darkened space just for a second to grab something and end up tripping or slipping on something they were not able to see.

Recognizing the most common potential unsafe conditions will help you and your coworkers correct safety issues before they injure someone. The best practices covered in this talk can be implemented easily to improve the safety of your construction site.