Grade A Construction | Safety

Safety is a top priority at Grade A Construction

Protecting the workforce, the public, and the environment are all very important to us and we strive to provide the most current safety information and criteria to our employees as soon as it becomes available. We offer equipment training, certifications, on site instructions and demonstrations throughout the year as well as communicating safe work habits using "Toolbox" Talks. Our "Toolbox" training sessions are performed onsite. This allows our employees to start each day with safety communication and demonstrations.

Safety Week

President of Grade A Construction, Rachelle Reigard, talking with employees about hydration safety during the summer months.

Keeping Hydrated

The health & safety of our own body is #1. Daily weather conditions play a major role in our personal health. During these hot summer months it is extremely important to stay well hydrated! Sweating is the natural biological reaction to cool your core body temperature. However, the loss of water when you sweat also means you are losing important electrolytes. These electrolytes are forms of salt such as sodium, potassium and chloride, all important elements to keep your body functioning. As a result, it’s important to stay hydrated before symptoms of heat stroke take hold. You should be drinking about 1 cup of water every 20 minutes if you are outside in extreme heat. Sports drinks are not necessary for obtaining electrolytes. By eating regular meals and having a salty snack from time to time, you should be able to maintain all your daily requirements.

Construction Trench Safety

Trench work is among the most hazardous of all construction activities. Conditions where trench excavation work must be performed vary from site to site, and from day to day. Grade A Construction makes it a priority to make each trench condition safe.

Clean Site

A clean, clear construction site should be on the top of the list for any company. It will help reduce the likelihood of injuries or illnesses - as well as contribute to a number of other positive trends on the job.

Here is why a clean construction site is so important, and a few tips to keep things neat and tidy:

-Cleanliness contributes to productivity: A cluttered, messy & debris-filled work site makes it hard to navigate through, find materials and tools needed to complete the job.

-Cleanliness improves appearances: A clean site reflects a professionalism of the construction company.

-Focus on cleanliness each day: Keeping a site clean is a daily task. When it's performed consistently, the task is not overwhelming.

Hard Hat Protection

Why wear hard hats?

The brain is the control center of the body. If it is damaged in any way, the entire body will be at risk. Normally the skull protects the brain from injury, but when falling or flying objects are a hazard, additional protection must be worn.

Sometimes workers are reluctant to wear hard hats:

The hat’s weight and heat are cited as being uncomfortable. However, not only will the hats protect your head from injury, they may be more comfortable than you think.

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A hard hat’s weight:

· A hat’s weight is part of its safety.

- The average hat weighs about 14 ounces.

- The average human head weighs 13 - 14 pounds.

- Therefore, a hat contains an ounce of safety for each pound of head, provided that the head protection is properly worn and maintained.

A hard hat’s temperature:

· Researchers found that the inside temperature of a hat was approximately 5 - 12 degrees cooler than the outside air. Governing factors included the material, reflection, and air space.

Eye Protection

The majority of work-related eye injuries are a result of flying or falling objects or sparks

Common Types of Eye Protection: Safety Glasses, Googles, Face Shields, Welding Masks

- Always wear proper eye protection where required, even if danger to your eyes seems remote.

- Before use, verify that your equipment is appropriate for the task. Inspect eye protection prior to each use.

- If you wear prescription eyewear, use eye protection that accommodates it. Prescription eyewear by itself is not a substitute for safety glasses or goggles.

- When welding or cutting, always wear safety glasses or goggles underneath face shields or welding helmets.

- When your work is complete, store eye protection properly and away from extreme temperatures or direct sunlight.

Safe & Sound Week - August 13-18, 2018

Safe workplaces are sound businesses. Successful safety and health programs can proactively identify and manage workplace hazards before they cause injury or illness, improving sustainability and the bottom line. We have communicated with over 90 of our field employees & all of our management staff about the importance of a safe work site. Our company president, Director of Operations, Foremen, operators and laborers have all been a part of the communicating safety tips and proper safety procedures. Grade A is doing everything possible to be "Grade A Safe". We continually encourage our employees to get involved in safety, and to partner with our vendors, that we buy and rent equipment from, as well as perform equipment inspections. Our goal during Safe & Sound Week will be to increase safety awareness, find and fix potential hazards, and assure our employees that safety is the most important part of their day.

Grade A President, Rachelle Reigard out promoting Safe & Sound Week.

Territory Manager, Jimbo Pexton, from Trench & Safety, spoke with Grade A employees about underground safety and proper use of road plates.

Director of Operations talking about being "Grade A Safe"

Employees enjoying a hydration break while learning about the importance of safety.

Safe + Sound Participant Certificate 1.j

Trench Training - July 2018

Hazards associated with trench work are often preventable and Grade A Construction has made it a priority to train their employees on proper trench safety habits. During the month of June 2018 Grade A Construction worked with Ralph Hines, Risk Control Specialist, from FCCI Insurance Group to be a part of communicating "Trench Safety Stand Down: Protecting the American Workforce". Ralph Hines and employee Diana Carrillo spoke to each utility crew specifically about trench safety and how to prevent accidents, injuries, and most importantly, death. Grade A believes through following proper procedures and practicing safe habits accidents and injuries can be prevented.

Collaborative Safety Training

Grade A Construction recognizes that safety awareness is required by ALL trades on a job site. Grade A invests in their employees by partnering with other companies and organizations to provide their employees safety training that will teach them how to collaborate in the field to create a safe work atmosphere. Understanding what other organizations are doing is an opportunity to build Grade A's safety program and ultimately protect not only our employees, but other employees in our work area. Grade A Construction strongly believes the most important part of the day is when safety is being trained, practiced and enforced.

OSHA 10 Hours Construction Safety & Health Training

The OSHA 10-Hour Training courses are designed to teach workplace safety and reduce jobsite hazards. Grade A Construction employs this training throughout the year. Ralph Hines, Risk Control Specialist from FCCI Insurance Group, recently certified 40 more employees in 10 - hour Construction Safety and Health.

Summer Hydration Awareness

Summer is a time of dehydration, so Grade A Construction began the season with a "Summer Hydration Awareness" program. Each crew participated in a "Toolbox Talk" about the importance of staying well hydrated and taking breaks throughout the hot days of summer. Each employee needs to get plenty of water & electrolytes during these days, so Grade A Construction provides each crew with an ice chest filled with drinks daily, to keep everyone well hydrated.

Safety Training with Subcontractors

Grade A Construction understands that safety awareness is for all trades. Grade A specifically includes other subcontractors and companies, that we work with/contract with, in our day to day safety awareness and communication. We want anyone partnering with Grade A to understand their safety is equally important to us.

Paving Subcontractor

Equipment Training

Grade A Construction realizes that one of the first steps to preventing an equipment accident, is to have excellent equipment training. All our employees are provided with equipment training for each piece of equipment that they will be operating. Our equipment training is provided by individuals certified and experienced with operating heavy equipment. This includes on site instruction from vendors where we purchase and rent equipment. Vendor training includes classroom, hands on, onsite and even instructions using simulated equipment. Grade A knows operating heavy equipment can be stressful and dangerous, so our goal is to strive to understand all of our equipment and its capabilities in order to operate it safely.