Construction Safety Column

Proper Tool Use and Training Saves Lives

Thousands of injuries could be prevented every year through better employee training and adherence to simple yet effective safety practices.

By Paula Eick

Construction sites are inherently dangerous places. Every activity is choreographed to keep things moving forward, and if the jobsite isn’t changing every minute of every working day, then progress isn’t being made.

This means there is no room in the schedule for accidents or injuries. Accidents bring the entire effort to a halt to assist the injured and investigate the causes. Then there are the lingering effects of reduced productivity and lower employee morale following jobsite accidents. The overall impact may be difficult to measure but the long term implications can be huge.

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Solid safety processes are crucial to minimizing chances for accidents and injuries. One critical element is training: workers must be trained the safe way to perform their work and to recognize unsafe conditions. Workers must also be trained to not engage in unsafe acts.

Without appropriate training, many workers may revert to bad habits and take great risks. “I’ve always done it this way” is a common refrain which translates to “I’ve been lucky so far.” Studies have shown that 300 to 1,000 of the same unsafe acts occur before an injury is sustained. Observational audits are a great way to identify gaps in employee knowledge and training.

Let’s explore one particular application of training and worker behavior. Power tools are in constant use on construction sites. These tools are driven by a variety of power sources, each with their own dangers. All power tools have safety practices which must first be communicated to the workers and then implemented. Failure to do either of these critical steps places every worker on the jobsite in jeopardy.

The following examples highlight the dangers created by improper training.

• One employee was climbing a metal ladder to hand an electric drill to the journeyman installer on a scaffold about five feet above him. When the victim reached the third rung from the bottom of the ladder he received an electric shock that killed him.
• The investigation revealed that the extension cord had a missing grounding prong and that a conductor on the green grounding wire was making intermittent contact with the energizing black wire thereby energizing the entire length of the grounding wire and the drill’s frame. The drill was not double insulated.
• A carpenter apprentice was killed when he was struck in the head by a nail that was fired from a powder-actuated tool. The tool operator, while attempting to anchor a plywood form in preparation for pouring a concrete wall, fired the gun causing the nail to pass through the hollow wall. The nail travelled some twenty-seven feet before striking the victim. The tool operator had never received training in the proper use of the tool, and none of the employees in the area were wearing personal protective equipment.

These are but two of the thousands of injuries and deaths that occur every year due to either a lack of training or a careless disregard of the rules. Fortunately, the hazards associated with power tools can be prevented by following five basic safety rules:

1. Keep all tools in good condition with regular maintenance.
2. Use the right tool for the job.
3. Examine each tool for damage before use.
4. Operate according to manufacturer’s instructions.
5. Provide and use the proper protective equipment.

If the rules are not known or ignored, accidents and injuries may result.

The most powerful tool of all is the human brain. If workers are not properly trained and do not constantly focus on the dangers of the task at hand, the consequences can be life changing or worse.

Paula Eick is the safety director for Adolfson & Peterson Construction in Phoenix. She manages overall safety and environmental compliance. She has a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering and a Master of Business Administration, both from Arizona State University.

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