Mark R. O'Connell, Director of Safety and Health Hobbs, Incorporated

Employee Safety and the Diverse WorkforceMany Cultures, One Goal

WHY? WHY? WHY?

Statistics

Construction is dangerous work. Historically, there have been years when there are more fatalities in construction than in any other industry.

Since January 2012, the Bridgeport Office of OSHA has already investigated over 80 falls resulting in two fatalities

Statistics The construction industry makes up less than 5% of the nation’s workforce but accounts for more than 20% of all workplace fatalities.

StatisticsIn 2003, the U.S. residential

construction industry employed more than 824,000 workers . . .

Statistics

. . . 128 of those workers died.

Falls killed 49 of these 128 victims. That’s a bit more than 1/3.

Those were . . .Husbands, Wives

. . . Sons, Daughters

. . . Friends, Family Members

. . . and Co-workersThat did not return home safe to their

family that day

But falls don’t only kill . . .

In 2002, falls on residential

construction sites were the second

leading cause of injuries resulting

in

days away from work.

Statistics

Approximately 1 out of every 200 residential construction workers experienced an injury from a fall

to a lower level in 2002. This injury rate is approximately

20% higher than the nonresidential construction builders rate.

THE ISSUE

Why do you think the worker in the picture was willing to take that chance?Is it because the worker wasn’t careful?Is it because residential construction is more dangerous than other types of construction?

Or Is it because the worker wasn’t communicated the importance and need to work safe?

Regardless of the reason, it is time to stop the trend.

MORE VARIED ETHNICITIES ARE BEING EMPLOYED

The influx of employees whose first language

is Spanish or other language has expanded the construction workforce and added skills to many contracting companies.

Reality One

Many have varied educational levels and varied abilities to read and understand English

Reality Two

Many employees may not have the experience with products, processes, and technology they are assigned to use in both safety compliance and productivity.

Reality Three

Many have a little or no formal safety training

Reality Four

At-risk behaviors don’t always result in injuries or other penalties sufficient to discourage their occurrence.

The employee gets comfortable performing the task in an unsafe manner

“THE NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO ME I’VE ALWAYS DONE IT THIS WAY SYNDROME”

Reality Five

Reality One More Varied Ethnicities Are Being Employed

The differences in culture and language present

significant barriers which impede the successful integration of varied ethnicities in the workforce.

Those barriers need to be broken down. If they are not adequately addressed, employers can

anticipate persistent problems with safety, quality, and productivity.

Working With The Five Realities

Reality TwoMany have varied educational levels and varied

abilities to read and understand English

Know the obstacles associated with communicating the safety message including language barriers and understanding comprehension.

Make sure the communication is fully understood in a language that they understand.

Working With The Five Realities

Reality Three

Don’t anticipate that the employee understands the process or tool or equipment, have them show you in some manner that they understand it.

Working With The Five Realities

Reality Four Many have a little or no formal safety training

Train them in a language they comprehend Provide the training and put it into terms they'll

understand. Make sure that they understand that it's in their best

interest to learn. Pictures, gestures, videos and on-site training have more

impact than words. Documentation. Even with a group of non-written

programs, it's vital to document what workers have been taught.

Working With The Five Realities

Reality FiveDiscourage the occurrence of at risk behavior.

1. Do not let the employee get comfortable performing the task in an unsafe manner

2. Let them know in no uncertain terms the consequences for their actions

“FYI the employee in the picture was terminated by the employer for violating the companies safety regulations “

Working With The Five Realities

It may require a little extra effort to plan your training for a diverse workforce. The rewards are there, however.

Proper training to meet OSHA requirements will ensure better safety for your workers.

It will minimize the chance that you’ll be cited (and penalized) for violating the OSHA standards.

Reaching all workers with your training will help worker cohesiveness.

The Benefits Of Promoting Safety To The Diverse Workforce

A good training program should reduce your accident and injury rate.

In turn, that reduces your workers’ comp costs.

If these five results are achieved—on top of all that, there’s a very good likelihood that you will achieve the ultimate goal and that is:

The Benefits Of Promoting Safety To The Diverse Workforce

THE ULTIMATE GOAL To let every person on every jobsite go back

home safe to their family each day.

Thank You