TIP #2

Safety is a vital part of public works. It affects your ability to bid and qualify for Owner Controlled Insurance Program (OCIP) or Contractor Controlled Insurance Program (CCIP). There are two types of Safety Plans needed for public works construction.

ILLNESS & INJURY PREVENTION PLAN (IIPP)*

California OSHA T8 CCR 83203 requires Employers to have an Illness & Injury Prevention Plan. The purpose of the IIP is to prevent illness, injuries, and death in the workplace. The plan should identify the hazards and best practices to avoid them.

The IIPP is a living document. What does that mean, you ask? Whatever is in the IIPP, you should implement it in the workplace. You must complete a Job Hazard Analyst for your particular trade(s), and the severity of the hazard could cause, i.e., cuts, loss of limb, or loss of life. The Job Hazard Analyst may intimidate you; however, it’s the injuries you have seen over the years. What are the best practices to prevent them? Include motivations for good safety habits. Once a quarter, cater lunch for a specified number of days with no safety incidents. Drawings for movie tickets or gift cards, whatever you have identified to encourage safety in the workplace, must occur. Every employee should be familiar with the IIPP. In the case of an OSHA accident investigation, that is the first thing your employees will be asked about and requested from the investigator. Teach your employees what is in the IIPL continuously. It should not be collecting dust on a shelf. Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) requires contractors to submit their IIPP for approval before bidding on projects.

SITE-SPECIFIC SAFETY PLAN

The second safety plan is a Site-Specific Safety Plan. This plan is specific to the construction job site. Who should call in case of a safety emergency? What is the address of the construction site to direct 911 in case of an emergency? Where is the closest medical facility to the job site in case of a worker’s compensation injury? Your employees should know the procedures for that job site. What is the number to notify the owner of the project? What is the protocol?

All your employees should be OSHA 10 certified. At least one employee OSHA 30 certified should always be on the job site. Conduct Weekly/Daily tailgate safety meetings to identify the job hazard and best practices to prevent injury. Document. Document. Document. I cannot say it enough. Have an attendance sheet signed by all employees present with the topic material. The papers are part of your IIPP. Cover any additional site-specific hazards of the day/week, such as trenching, overhead electrical wires, large machines on the job site that the driver has limited visibility, etc. It would be best if you also incorporate stretching into your safety routine.