Meet “Nick the Nailer,” our resident good guy and average field employee. He believes in safety, and works for Builder’s Bloc because Builder’s Bloc is committed to keeping him safe on the job. Periodically Nick will be bringing to this website safety ideas and programs, but for now, let’s just get to know him and the Safety Philosophy of Builder’s Bloc.

SAFETY – what does that mean? Webster’s Dictionary defines safety as “the condition of being safe from undergoing or causing hurt, injury, or loss.” Being safe applies not only to me but to everyone on the jobsite with me. Wow, I am my brother’s keeper after all! My share of the responsibility just increased and doubled. How do I become safe? How do I make sure I don’t cause another worker hurt, injury or loss? Safety may be tougher to buy into than I thought.

First, it means I must consider the effect of every action I make on the job. Do I honestly believe that accidents just happen in our industry? Or am I willing to accept that there is a factor that if recognized and changed, will prevent an accident from occurring. That is one heavy load to carry, and I’m not management. All my experience may help, but I still have to think my way through every process every day. How carefully do I aim that nail gun? How far should I really stretch from a ladder to install that board? Are those forms really secure? Did I secure that hole cover well enough to support my co-worker or a visitor to the jobsite?

Second, I have the responsibility to teach new guys the correct way to do things. Their actions may make a difference in my life. I want to go home to my family tonight, and not end up in a hospital. That means I need to discuss with them the proper and safe way to do something.  Should I ever see a new guy doing something unsafe, I must get them to stop, and instruct them in the proper way.  This may not make them happy, but safety is paramount.

Third, I must be willing to stand up and report unsafe conditions. All unsafe work conditions need to be avoided.  It is important I challenge any unsafe practice, even if the cause is my boss or our own customer.  I must be willing to force change, for the good of all. Accidents can be prevented when unsafe conditions are changed to make them safe.

How far am I willing to go? How important is my safety and the safety of other workers to me? Personally, I want to grow old, and be able to enjoy my grandkids. Safety is important to me, and I am willing to “buy into it”.  What is your choice? How far are you willing to go to be safe? Show me by your actions the choices you have made because no excuse will ever be a good enough answer.

INVEST IN TOMORROW......PRACTICE SAFETY TODAY!