Construction safety training orientation

The construction industry suffers from one of the highest accident rates, with over 2,000 fatalities a year, according to OSHA, prompting a call within the industry for greater safety training.

Wconline.com, a walls and ceilings site, advocates safety orientation programs for contractors that communicate company procedures to employees before they set foot on the job site. The programs should also provide information on applicable regulatory requirements.

Many of the basic items in its suggested safety orientation program are specific to the construction industry, including:

• Guidelines for using and inspecting company-specific tools, equipment, machinery and vehicles.
• Using company tools and equipment for personal use
• Using personal tools on your job sites
• Using other contractors’ tools and equipment
• Allowing other contractors to use your tools and equipment
• Applicable OSHA regulations: personal protective equipment, scaffold, ladder, fall protection, electrical, fire protection, confined spaces, trench safety, heavy equipment safety
• Machinery/vehicle safety requirements
• Manual lifting, moving and carrying
• What to do with damaged, worn-out, unsafe tools and equipment