Keep Your Team Safe this Holiday Season, and Year-Round

3 Overlooked Safety Issues for Your Installer Team

2017-12-20

Santa is checking his list... Are you reviewing your team's safety checklist on every job? It's the holiday season, a time when you appreciate your dedicated team members with time off, gifts, and even bonuses. However, the greatest gift you can give the people who work with you — and their families — is year-round safety.

Here are three general — but sometimes overlooked — areas of concern when it comes to your people's safety.

•    Make sure your team comes to work well-rested and "fit for duty."

Although we typically think of hazards as coming from the environment or material we use, safety begins off the job site. As Bryan McWhorter writes for Safeopedia.com, "Sleep deprivation has become the norm for many of us as we balance work, family and life" — for which we try to compensate by leaning on caffeine and energy drinks.

There is no substitute for a good night's sleep, however. "Up to 40% of your employees are sleep deprived," McWhorter continues, impacting concentration, work performance, health and quality of life — and safety.

What can you do about it? Educate and observe your team. Raise awareness. And lead by example: make sure you're getting enough sleep yourself.

•    "Low VOC's" doesn't mean pitch the safety equipment.

As manufacturers of low-VOC polyurea, we are familiar with the reduced environmental impact and increased safety of using low-VOC (volatile organic compound) materials. Epoxy flooring systems, for example, produce toxic fumes for hours after application. These VOCs are dangerous to installers as well as customers in the vicinity. So, we recommend reducing the risk of contractor injury by using low- to no-VOC coatings.

However, the material's low odor can lull installers into a false sense of security. As detailed in our product tech sheets, vapor and atomized liquids always carry some risk of harm. Overexposure may cause lung damage, allergic skin reactions, or respiratory reactions.

What can you do about it? When coating concrete, ventilate the area and wear approved respirators and other protective gear when necessary. Always review material safety data sheets with your team.

•    Training is not a one-and-done.

Whether you are a seasoned veteran or industry newbie, the key word in "ongoing training" is ongoing. Technology and materials constantly change. Your team constantly evolves, with new employees to train and familiarize with safety practices.

Continuing education prevents your team from becoming complacent, allowing familiarity with material, environment and equipment to breed careless mistakes.

What can you do about it? Lead the way by always learning. Require your team to attend regular trainings in safety and the proper use of equipment and materials. (We offer hands-on trainings for contractors and their employees several times a year.) Make sure your safety policies are well-documented and a part of every new team member's onboarding.

For additional guidelines on working safely with concrete, visit OSHA's website. To learn more about upcoming trainings or how our products can help protect your team's safety, click here to speak with one of our experts.