The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) classifies construction as a “high-risk” industry. Compared to other industries, construction workers are more vulnerable to serious injury. Because of this, it’s imperative that each and every worker understand the importance of construction safety checks.

Walk-Around Inspections

Each employee should have a walk-around inspection checklist. This checklist should be completed at the beginning of an employee’s shift, to ensure that their tasks are completed in the safest environments.

Everyone’s walk-around inspection will the different. For instance, a forklift operator will need to walk around and inspect his vehicle, while a construction manager will be responsible for doing an overall jobsite safety inspection.

Here are some examples of what could be on an inspection checklist:

• Ensure everyone is wearing the right safety gear: goggles, helmets, etc.
• Determine that all work areas are clean
• Determine that all exits are properly labeled, and that all emergency exit plans are hung in highly visible areas
• Flammable liquids, and other hazardous materials, should be properly stored

A supervisor, or foremen, is the crew leader on a construction jobsite. It’s up to him to plan, organize, and direct work in a safe, and timely, manner. All supervisors will experience conflict at some point, as well as safety violations and workplace injuries. By keeping a daily record of all activities, your construction site supervisor can protect your business from arbitration and/or litigation.

What is a Daily Log?

The daily log is a book, or software program, into which a supervisor records the day’s activities. Record keeping helps ensure project organization, as well as keeps tabs on day-to-day employee happenings. The daily log is essential because it keeps a consistent record, which could be useful if you’re ever sued, and need to prove that your workers performed a safety inspection, or conflict was handled immediately and efficiently.

Daily log sections include:

• Date
• Times of incidents
• Work performed
• Safety topics
• Problems and delays
• Employee conflict  
• Equipment usage
• Materials purchased
• General management