Construction safety is a risk you can manage. The JHA (job safety analysis) program was needed to identify and mitigate or eliminate workplace hazards by stimulating employee buy-in to safety. A recent JHA process study by the CPWR (Center for Construction Research and Training) submits:
- Complacency
- Ineffective communication from management
- Isolation of upper management from jobs
- Lack of input and buy-in from workers
…make the JHA process ineffective.
Thirty JHA documents were examined and 23 interviews with the safety professionals from representative construction industry businesses were conducted.
The study revealed most companies’ safety documentations have no:
- Information for contacting JHA
- References for control recommendations
- Risk assessment matrix
- Visual representations
And despite the fact that paper documentation fails to be effective, most small-company safety professionals use paper input anyway. CPWR suggested rotating JHA leaders to empower employees. They also recommended improving JHA content and including visual aids to make safety information easier to understand.
We Need to Adjust Construction Industry Safety Mindsets
We spent time each morning completing the JHA and having people sign it. Nothing ever came from it. -Construction superintendent
Safety professional Tricia Kagerer says it’s time to reframe risk. Kagerer says by moving from the JHA model to one that includes Daily Planning Conversations (DPC), construction industry leaders will have the chance to “reframe” how we view risk by using leadership communication to improve preplanning and prevent incidents. Every day.
The JHA process is filled with good intentions. When utilized in conjunction with the Foundation for Safety Leadership (FSL) program and DPC, leaders are learning construction workers prefer focusing on safety protection through technology rather than prevention awareness. And safety professionals find real value in their work.
Technologies to promote safety include:
- Artificial intelligence
- Drones
- GPS electronics
- Machine learning
- Natural language processing
- Onsite security cameras
- Safety software
- Wearables
Adopting construction technology is a challenge for many companies. They are concerned about difficulty of use. And will it be utilized or become an investment that didn’t pan out?
Our business permit data is sorted before it’s sent to you. We make sure it’s easy to use. You can seek support any time, so make the call today and let’s discuss ways you can use our technology.
Call 800.925.6085 (international/435.586.1205) or contact Construction Monitor.