The Builders Association held its third annual industry Safety Stand Down on June 3, reflecting the local leadership of the initiative that has become a national project. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) used our program at the national level for 2014,” the association says.
Chicago Construction News publisher Brooke McDonald visited two major construction sites, Wrigley Field and Northwestern University, with BA executive director Dan McLaughlin and program manager Stacey Kelly to cover the Safety Stand Down. We’ll be publishing a more detailed report on the initiative in the inaugural Chicago Construction News magazine later in the month.
Kelly says 30 companies participated in the Chicago-area Safety Stand Down with more than 100 jobsites and 3,500 tradesworkers.
“Companies that Stand Down for Safety during this event know the value of safety training and comprehensive jobsite inspection, and voluntarily cease work for approximately 30 minutes to provide focused training on a particular topic,” the BA says. “This meeting provides effective communication of safety policies, goals and expectations through all levels of your team, and improves employee morale.”
While the previous two Chicagoland Safety Stand downs focused on fall protection, the 2015 event centers on the importance of planning for safety.
“Research shows that projects employing pre-task planning throughout the entire construction process realize better safety ratings. Using pre-task planning brings the entire crew into the decision-making process that directly impacts their own safety performances…thereby making the jobsite a much safer place.”
