Spotting is an essential activity that we as a construction company perform on a frequent basis. It  can also be one of the most dangerous if not properly planned out. Spotters can be used for various activities, including spotting trucks when dumping loads, spotting excavators or backhoes during trenching or excavation activities, or something as simple as spotting a water truck backing up to the filling area.  On this site we utilize spotters almost daily so we came up with a basic guideline for spotters, and the equipment operators or truck drivers who are involved with that specific task.
 
•         At any time the operator or truck driver loses sight of the spotter they are to immediately stop the equipment or truck until the spotter is in sight again.
•         Only use one spotter at a time as more than one will cause confusion.
•         Ensure that spotting is discussed in the JSAP and that there is a clear communication between the spotter and operator/drivers as to what hand signals will be used and what they mean.
•         Unless it is not possible have the spotter in a fixed location where the truck is to dump so that the spotter does not have to move around or walk backwards.
•         Use a piece of equipment to spot if possible to reduce the risk of having an employee on the ground around heavy equipment or trucks that are dumping.
•         If conditions change or a new spotter is going to be utilized stop the work and make sure that everyone is on the same page and clear on the activities being performed.
•         Finally, remember that as a spotter if you cannot see the operator/driver in their mirrors, they cannot see you.

Every morning we start our projects out with a safety tailgate meeting. We discuss things like where the first aids kits are located, fire extinguishers and the route to the local hospital. We talk about the emergency alarms, evacuations points and what to do during severe weather. However, in the event of an incident, are we all aware of the importance of timely notification?
Because of untimely notification the management team would not be properly notified, additional employees would be performing that same type of task and will be wearing the same type of incorrect PPE and they too would be  at risk to the same type of injury potential. Instead of one injury we could have  two or more! This is why immediate notification is so very important - so that we can assure that all proper assessments are made before work is restarted.
As a reminder, the following is required:
•                     A verbal notification in the 0 -  60 minute time frame to the Project Manager and the Corporate Safety Officer, no voicemails, regardless of the time of day or the day of the week - keep calling!
•                     The 1 - 24 hour time frame, regardless of the time of day or day of the week, the DRAFT incident report is due within 24 hours.
Pass it on!

If you have angry workers in your department or you yourself are angry, you may end up reporting more injuries on the job.  A recent study by the Annals of Family Medicine found that high levels of anger increase the risk of injury.  Angry people are more likely to sustain injuries serious enough to require emergency medical care, and the risk is higher for men than women, says lead author Daniel Vinson of the University of Missouri.
The study, in the Annals of Family Medicine, found that nearly 32% of all the patients reported being irritable just before they were injured, 18% reported being angry and 13% reported being hostile.
Anger more than quadrupled a person's odds of being injured, while being hostile increased those odds six-fold.  For men, Vinson says, the link was particularly clear.  Another study that followed 100 drivers for two weeks linked episodes of anger with "near accidents".  Two additional studies found that angry people were more likely to have car crashes or sustain football injuries.
There is little doubt that anger can be a contributing factor in workplace injuries, but what do you do about it?  

Here are some tips:
•    Consciously determine to be calm.  Be proactive!  Remember your goals and respond appropriately.  Choose to remain calm!
•    Communicate.  When someone upsets you, tell them.  Calmly talk to them about how you feel about their words or actions.  Learn to express yourself better -- clear and composed.  Choose to!
•    Remove yourself.  Get away from the scene until you can respond without anger.  Your success will not happen overnight.  Take it one step at a time, one day at a time. Remember to relax.  Relaxation exercises or music can be helpful.  Keep in mind you can reach out to someone you trust for help.  Choose to!
•    Look for the positives.  Don't dwell on the negatives.  "Don't sweat the small stuff." Don't worry about things that are out of your personal control.  This is difficult, but an attitude and behavior that can be learned!

Workplace stress can be defined as the harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources, or needs of the employee. Workplace stress results from the interaction of the staff member and the conditions of work. Views differ, however, on the importance of the individual characteristics versus working conditions as the primary cause of job stress. Differences in such individual characteristics as personality and coping style are most important in predicting whether certain job conditions will result in stress.  In other words, what is stressful for one person may not be a problem for someone else. Other factors to consider in workplace stress include the design of tasks, work roles, job insecurity or such difficult environmental conditions as noisy or dangerous working conditions.