At Townsend we realize that when it comes to safety, there are no shortcuts. That’s why we start each project with a thorough job briefing. Job briefings ensure that the team knows of any potential hazards, what duties they are responsible for and ensures all safety information has been discussed. No job is the same, but every safety briefing should utilize a similar format:
Description of Work to Be Performed
No matter the project, each job briefing needs to provide a thorough description of the work to be performed. This includes detailing each crew member’s duties for the day.
Review of Potential Hazards
One of the most important elements of the job briefing is the review of potential hazards – as team members need to be aware of any dangers that may be present before setting foot on the jobsite. All hazards identified on the job should either be eliminated or mitigating procedures during the briefing should be provided to reduce risk. Below are some of the common dangers to look out for:
Confirmation that All Crew Members Have Their PPE
All crew members need to have their PPE when they come to their jobsite. PPE required for the job includes hard hats, ear protection, fall protection and more:
Confirm All Crew Members Know Their Responsibilities
What job procedure will each crew member be doing? This needs to be addressed and defined in your job briefing. Understanding job duties in detail can help prevent accidents and ensure you get home safely.
Review of Emergency Contacts, Nearest Hospitals and Emergency Procedures
We take every possible measure to ensure the safety of our teams to prevent accidents from happening. All emergency contact info should be reviewed in addition to what procedures need to be followed. This will ensure that if an incident does occur, your team is prepared to handle it.
Crew Members Must Be Attentive
The general foreman conducting the safety briefing needs to ensure that all crew members are paying attention and listening to every aspect of the briefing. All crew members need to sign documentation after the briefings to confirm that they understand what is expected of them as well.
Crew Arriving After Initial Briefing Still Needs to be Briefed
Crew members arriving after the initial job briefing need to receive the full briefing and sign the same documentation indicating that they have listened and understood what is expected of them. This is also true if personnel or the scope of work changes while on the job.
In addition to everything mentioned above, your general foremen should place a copy of the job briefing in a weather proof sleeve at the entrance of the jobsite in case anyone needs to reference it as the day goes on. And don’t be afraid to ask questions or get clarification about something you’re unsure of; it can be the difference between safe working and an accident.
Safety is everyone’s responsibility. Before starting your work project, a job briefing is the best way to ensure you have the tools to stay out of harms way. No job is the same, but every job briefing should be given the same attention to ensure everyone gets home safely at the end of the workday.