Job
Hazard
Analysis
Make safety a part of daily
operations
Construction is a tough business and
pile driving can be a challenging
aspect of that business. As costs
increase and schedules get tighter, safety
takes on an even greater importance in the
daily operations of a pile driving project.
Contractors are constantly hoisting heavy
loads in tight working conditions and difficult
site conditions. While many pile driving
operations are similar to those employed
on other projects, the conditions under
which those operations are undertaken, the
material used and the equipment available
are often different, requiring a re-evaluation
of the task at hand.
We all work best when we know our
jobs, those we work with and complex communication
is kept to a minimum. All too
often, crewmembers, some of whom are
new to the profession and inexperienced in
construction, do not recognize the hazards
that surround them. Accidents not only
disrupt our employees’ lives but they affect
the bottom line as well. Construction progress
is affected, resources have to be invested in
treatments and accident response, crew cohesiveness
is affected and insurance rates can
increase. Accidents can also limit opportunities
to submit bids on future projects.
However, safety can be managed and
made a part of daily operations. One of the
best ways to deal with the uncertainties of
any operation is to conduct a job hazard
analysis. A job hazard analysis is a procedure
that allows you to focus on each job
task and identify its particular hazards so
that they can be eliminated or mitigated.
The analysis encompasses the workers, the
task, the tools and the work environment
to help you identify what can go wrong and
what the contributing factors to a potential
accident might be.
When a project is underway, it is very
easy for workers to focus on the immediate
task at hand. Factors that can cause or contribute
to an accident are tolerated as long as
they are not impeding progress. A job hazard
analysis undertaken prior to the start
of a task when everyone can devote their
undivided attention can be used to identify
factors that might cause or contribute to an
accident or otherwise create unsafe working
conditions. It can also be used to educate
new employees on the proper completion of
a task, their part in the process and conditions
of which they should be aware as they
complete their duties.
SAFETY
Kuzma; Apostrophe; Brumarina/Shutterstock
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