Building Success 101Professional builders do what is needed to keep everyone out of harm’s way
There’s no getting around it: construction can be a hazardous job. We say “can be” because professional builders respect those hazards and equip and train their workers to mitigate safety issues as much as possible. By doing so, professional builders protect their businesses and their clients from liability.
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides guidelines and regulations for homebuilders and contractors to prevent accidents on a residential job site. The penalties for failing to comply with these rules range from hefty fines to shutting down the job until violations are corrected.
Professional builders comply with the regulations and often take extra steps to help ensure a safe working environment on each project and keep everyone out of harm’s way.
Inspection. As directed by OSHA, professional builders continually inspect their job sites for potential hazards. They may have a safety manager who regularly visits each site. Common hazards include ladders or scaffolding that are unsecured or set on uneven ground, unmarked trenches, or an incomplete or missing first aid kit.
If violations are found, they are quickly reported and remedied to get the company back into compliance. And, they are corrected for future jobs.
Education and training. It’s critical to continually educate workers so they can recognize and avoid job site hazards and accidents. In addition to a written safety and health program required by OSHA, professional builders often conduct what are called “Toolbox Talks” about safety, perhaps showing a video or (even better) a real-world example of a common hazard and how to remedy or avoid it.
Builders who are dedicated to safety also equip their crews with the latest in safety gear, from guardrails on ladders and scaffolding to hard hats, gloves, eye protection, and personal harnesses, and they keep that gear in good working order. These builders also require their trade partners to follow the same safety procedures.
Incentives. Smart builders often use incentives to help ensure safety. A worker who reports or remedies a job site hazard may earn a bonus, time off, or another reward that recognizes their initiative and sets an example for the rest of the crew.
Builders may also track and publicly post job site safety achievements, such as the number of days without an accident or time lost to a job site injury. Those achievements may earn the builder recognition from OSHA or acknowledgement from the company that insures the builder against liability and worker’s compensation—lowering their overhead costs and enabling them to be more competitive for future jobs.
Including homebuyers. Savvy and safety-conscious builders know that their clients will want to visit the job site to see progress, make decisions, and discuss concerns. Homebuyers can go a long way to keeping themselves safe on the job site by following the same rules and procedures as the crew. We encourage visitors to wear hard hats and safety goggles and avoid walking through a house under construction without supervision or after hours, as they may be unprepared to avoid hazards.
Warm Regards,
Hawthorne Golf Estates: Now Taking Reservations!
After years of anticipation Hawthorne Golf Estates is now approved and being developed by Hawthorne Golf Estates LLC. Payne and Payne will be one of the partner building companies in the community and we are actively taking home site reservations!
This brand new community is located in Solon on the property where Hawthorne Country Club previously resided. This community will be a total of 102 lots in a secluded setting surrounded by preserved greenspace and Metroparks.
Details include:
-Age 50 and over limited maintenance community
-Trails to connect to the South Chagrin Reservation
-Scenic views and beautiful natural surroundings
-City sewer and city water
-Mix of conventional, garden view, and walk-out basements available
-Close proximity to shopping, first-class dining, and top-rated schools
-Homes starting at 1500sf
-Starting from the 600’s (house and land)
-Lot sizes ranging from .11 to .176 acres
Building Success 101
Q: What’s the most common job site safety hazard?
A: In residential construction, the most common hazards relate to falls, namely from roofs or areas that are more than six feet above the ground. OSHA reports that scaffolding, fall prevention, and ladders are among its top five most-frequently cited violations. They recently tightened standards to further mitigate those hazards