I know so many people still roll their eyes when they see the white hats approaching… And it’s common thought that safety people have no idea how to do your job but they still tell you how to do it. Here’s the thing though, they don’t need to know how to weld, fit or pull cable, to know if you’re doing it safely….because they may not know your trade but they know safety. If you’re an electrician you wouldn’t be giving a welder tips… but you definitely know your stuff when it comes to electrical, right? Same with safety officers, they aren’t trying to tell you how to do your job… They just want you to do it safely. In all my time in the field, I have never had a safety worker tell me how to run a bead. So, I’m not sure where this misconception came from. I’m just throwing this out there… But if you trust that you know your stuff, you should trust that your safety crew knows theirs. So, I know you all love your cracks at safety and your safety memes and I’m all for a good laugh, but please do not buy into any anti safety rhetoric. Your life actually depends on it.

Alright truth be told, for the most part I’m horrible at New year’s resolutions. Maybe it’s because I usually only make it a few days without treats🤷 and then I break. A treat free life is not something I truly believe in. But I do believe this is a great time to reflect and try to be better and safer at work… That is something I can definitely get behind (especially because I can still have treats at break). Seriously, all jokes and treats aside… This is a great time to mentally go over any near misses, close calls or scares you had last year. Pick these incidences apart, what could you have done differently, what did you learn and what will you do next time? Take some time to ensure this year is even safer than last… so you’re still around to indulge in treats.

Unsafe trenching and excavation have caused a huge amount of injuries and deaths over the years. These incidents happen incredibly fast. Can you imagine one second working away, and the next you are buried alive? That is terrifying on every level. Thankfully, excavation injuries and deaths are also very preventable. Here are some things to go over before you even begin.

Be familiar with the laws and legislation in your area. Contact the proper overseeing officials in your area to be sure. Have an emergency plan in place, have all emergency contacts readily available. Know what services are buried and where they are. Also know where the overhead lines are and what the safe distance is from them or how to have them de-energized. Know what kind of soil you are working with, there could be many kinds in the area you are about to dig up and you need to know them all. Be aware of close by buildings or other work sites that could affect the trench. Before any workers enter the trench, it needs to be tested for oxygen levels and hazardous gases. These tests need to continue while work is being done.  Ensure necessary shoring is in place. The proper means need to be taken to prevent a worker from falling into the trench and an above ground spotter is required. And or course a readily available exit for each worker.

Please keep in mind this is just a list of key points. There is so much more that goes into excavation. It’s a lot of permits, planning, safety tickets, PPE and safety red tape, all for a very good reason. If you’re going to be involved in trenching and excavation please go to our website and take one of the trenching, excavation and shoring courses we offer.

We all take shortcuts. Maybe it’s not putting on our seat belt when we are just driving to the wash cart, or not tying off when you’re quickly taking the EWP back up to grab something, or walking through a red tape area because it’s faster. The thing is; shortcuts, both at work and at home, only seem like shortcuts for a while. Eventually, your luck will run out and you’ll get injured or cause somebody else to be. Most of the time, you’re only saving a second or two. I mean how long does it take to click on your seat belt, or gear up and tie off on your lift? ….or walk around a red zone? Think about the alternative… an injury could slow you down for months, or even years, or even be potentially fatal. Are those 5 seconds worth it? If you find yourself taking shortcuts, you need to break that habit. Even if you’re just cutting the corner and walking on your neighbors grass instead of the sidewalk, break the shortcut habit. Make a mental note to do things the correct way. I promise, for the most part you won’t even notice the little bit of extra time it takes. Sometimes the safe way will take a bit longer… and that’s okay, you get paid by the hour right?