Safety professionals like to talk about establishing safety "routines." I'm not so sure that this is exactly the right approach. The dictionary definition of "routine" is an "unvarying or habitual method of procedure." But "unvarying" and "habitual" are qualities that hamstring the display of an equally important aspect of safety: the ability to think and react. As a safety supervisor, I have come to understand that there's a fine line between routine and complacency. Let me share the experience that led me to realize this.

A Routine Project

I usually go to a new job every couple of years. The location changes, as does the type of construction. But no matter what's being built, there is a system or routine that I always follow.

At the pre-construction stage, I ensure that all the details are covered. Because everything is new, this routine is exciting. I'm looking at a new site, meeting new people, arranging pre-construction meetings with the subcontractors, ensuring they have all the required paperwork, acquiring records of training, doing orientations and so on.

The work begins and this entails excavation, demolition, or both, depending on the project. Then there's the initial concrete. It's still exciting, but I know that cuts and bruises usually accompany formwork, especially in the initial stages. So I prepare for this. I make sure my first aid kit is fully stocked and ready to go.

Now let's fast-forward seven months. The building has taken shape. I'm performing daily inspections, haven't had any major injuries to speak of, paperwork is all accounted for and things are going smoothly. Every morning, I approach the jobsite from the same direction to get to my office. I go through the building the same way every day. I'm observing the same things - the same ladders all tied off, the same floor openings covered, the same faces greeting me. I notice that the guardrails are in place, no worker is doing anything really bizarre, and the housekeeping is in good shape. Sure, there are little things here and there, but that's to be expected.

A Break in the Routine

One morning, I'm at my desk and I'm feeling good. E-mails are all answered, owner is pleased, another morning of things running relatively smoothly, with no major hiccups. Until my radio goes off.

"Corey, can you come down to the pipe gallery right away?" I can tell by my general foreman's voice that something serious is happening. I hear on another radio someone call for a stretcher. Uh-oh.

As I walk toward the scene, I'm not sure what to expect. I don't know who is hurt or how bad. I'm thinking that for the first time in four years, I may have to call an ambulance to my jobsite. Last week, I had the Deputy Fire Chief through the site, discussing where we would need the fire department's help to perform a rescue. But this one is ours to do and it's happening right now. I try to prepare myself for something I've never done before - taking control of an accident scene. I have trained for this, but without practice, training gets rusty.

I stay calm as I approach the accident scene and prepare to delegate tasks. My general foreman has the situation under control, which lets me focus on communicating with the injured worker. He's hurt his leg. We air lift him to level ground with our tower crane, and wait for the ambulance.

It turns out that the worker simply miscalculated his step as he walked down a ladder. His foot slipped through, got stuck in a wall form, and he suffered some minor muscle damage to his lower leg. Judging from the pain he's in, it's a safe guess that his leg is badly sprained or broken. However, he's on light duties the very next day, and back to regular duties the following Monday.

Why Wasn't I Prepared As Well As I Could Have Been?

Human nature is funny. When things are going well it's easy to get lost in life. Most of us go about our daily "routines" and really don't challenge or train ourselves very well for the "what ifs." We tend to live life based on what history teaches us.

For example, despite the threats, the 9/11 attack wasn't taken seriously; a category 5 hurricane was supposed to hit New Orleans a couple of times before, but didn't; and how many of us have postponed writing our wills? Just one day of not being prepared changes everything.

I wasn't consciously telling myself that I won't have a serious injury on my site, but history had taught me that it was something that I didn't need to really worry about. After all, technically, I am prepared. I've trained for this. But it's nothing like the real thing, and my training is due to be updated soon.

My New Approach

So what am I doing now to prepare for an incident? I've shaken up my routines. So far, my revised approach includes:

• Reviewing monthly (at least) accident response procedures, first aid needs and accident scene management.
• Establishing and designating a rescue team, with mock rescue situations planned.
• Reviewing upcoming work with the general foreman. With this proactive step, I might come across a task that will require a site-specific safe work procedure, and I can get that subcontractor thinking about it ahead of time.
• Giving reminders and creating awareness through tool box talks about the simple things, such as walking down ladders, watching where you walk, looking out for other trades, etc. On this project, with 88 concrete walls anywhere from 17 to 33 feet high, many of the safety subjects focus on fall protection. We can't forget that sometimes the simple injuries have the potential to be serious.

Conclusion

If this incident were to occur now, I believe that I would be better prepared for it. Complacency is a risk for safety professionals, too. Take a look at some of your routines. You may be surprised to find that you are not as prepared as you think.

MEMBER REPLIES

The Bilingual Safety Training Dialog Continues

Language Barrier is a Safety Hazard

The reality is that not all of the workforce can read or write in English or at all. If you rely on a significant number of non-English speaking persons to do the work, it only stands to reason that you should train to their needs. Or maybe deaf people should learn to hear?no need for sign language interpreters.

Bill L. Bennett

Learning from the Past

I fully agree it is imperative workers learn English to live and work in the US, but to allow them to become injured and maimed as a result of poor safety training, regardless of the reason, is more than senseless, it's criminal.

We are a nation of immigrants and our forefathers suffered the same indignities and problems because of language barriers. A hundred or more years later, we as safety professionals have the ability to make an impact on the safety of all workers by providing them instructions they can understand, regardless of the form. Are we willing to regress?

Bruce Schryver

It's a Moral Obligation

I agree with the comments about Hispanic workers learning English; however, until your entire workforce learns, you have an obligation to train in the language they understand. If you are not willing to do this, you better not hire non-English-speaking workers. You have a legal, as well as a moral, obligation to train all workers equally.

Larry Moore

I was disappointed to read the comments regarding language and responsibility in your recent newsletter, especially coming from, it is considered, Safety Professionals. These are comments I have heard in the past both from other companies and within my own; though I do not hear them in my company anymore.

Companies have a legal and moral responsibility to ensure all their employees know, understand and follow safety procedures, instructions and rules. It is the company that chooses to employ people from differing backgrounds, cultures and languages regardless of the fact they may have settled in another country than the one of their birth. In so doing, they accept the responsibility for training in a way and a language understood by the employee.

Anonymous

Bilingual Training Hinders Progress

I am a Caucasian who was forced to learn English out of need. I have lived in the United States since I was in grade school. Not knowing an ounce of English, I felt the need to get with the program, especially because my mother relied on me to translate for her anywhere we went. I was fortunate to start at an early age, which facilitated the learning process.

People must realize that by making it easy on our fellow Hispanic workers, we are limiting them to get ahead. We are not doing them a favor, but rather extending their limitations. Sure, we must provide training for them and show that they understand, but if we don't require them to go to adult school to learn English, we will continue to see laws passed that cater to the Spanish language and that just isn't right. The land of freedom is free no more.

Ely Dorado

Think Bilingual's Tough? Try Multi-Lingual

It's sad to read the Members' Feedback regarding the article on "Translating Safety." It now seems there's a pre-requisite for the staff to learn English first and only then will others teach them how to look after their own safety. Something is not right with this picture. Learning a new language is not easy for them or for the trainer either. And giving a Spanish safety talk shouldn't be too hard. The materials can be prepared together by the Spanish-speaking trainer and an experienced English-speaking trainer.

If the two chaps think they have it tough with Spanish training, imagine working in an environment where the production workforce speaks 2 different languages, one of which has more than 10 different dialects.

At the end of the day, is it not better to have at least one person understand the safety requirements than to have one die from not understanding it, regardless of the challenges?

Hispanic Worker Safety Statistics

• Agriculture is second only to the mining industry in yearly fatality rates in the US
• 85% of hired agricultural crop workers are foreign-born; 90% of this population are from Latin America
• Approximately 3 to 5 million migrant and seasonal farm workers are employed in the US every year
• Approximately 7% of migrant and seasonal farm workers are adolescents

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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