PLSO The Oregon Surveyor July/August 2021

6 The Oregon Surveyor | Vol. 44, No. 4 From the Publications Committee Pat Gaylord, PLS PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE FROM THE FIELD NOTES As we transition out of more than a year of intense safety measures, we can’t forget about day-to-day safety on our job sites. H ello again everyone. By the time you read this, summer and an- other construction season will be in full swing. Safety and training of our personnel should continue to be job #1. As we transition out of more than a year of intense safety measures, we can’t for- get about day-to-day safety on our job sites. As I write this in early June, most COVID restrictions are predicted to be lifted or greatly reduced soon, so your crews are probably finally back to riding in the same truck and other “normal” work routines. Is it time for a refresher course on overall safety and day-to-day procedures? I would encourage everyone to consider reviewing safety concerns which once seemed ob- vious. Much of our safety knowledge can become stale after more than a year of “business COVID style.” Consider brushing up on the following topics with your staff to keep everyone safe and productive: 1) Emergency procedures : With employ- ees returning to the office, do your crews know what to do when something goes wrong? Call 911, call the office, call their mom, or call you on Zoom? It’s a good idea to have protocols in place and dis- cuss them regularly to keep people safe. It’s especially important for employees to knowwhat to do when an accident occurs. These policies will help manage your risk when it comes to insurance claims or lia- bilities for unreported events. Emergency procedures and business expectations are equally important if your crews witness an accident or if they are involved in one. 2) General operatingprocedures: Are your post-COVID, right-of-entry, and all-around general contact with the public protocols the same? How should your crews meet and greet people as mask wearing and so- cial distancing changes? Are they aware of job site-specific rules related to general safety and any out of the ordinary post- COVID requirements? Assuming we are truly post-COVID at publication, these are topics to consider maintaining your com- pany image and convey expectations to your employees. 3) Safety equipment: Unless you’re an owner/operator, it’s probably been a year since you actually looked inside your crew truck and checked on your safety equip- ment and first aid kits. Are first aid kits, fire extinguishers, traffic cones, signs, ve - hicle lights and flashers, hard hats, gloves, vests, etc. all serviceable, fully stocked, and up to date? 4) Daily safety meetings: Do your crews perform a morning tailgate meeting? Reviewing jobsite conditions and safety hazards can go a long way in preventing injuries. Consider creating a brief, one-page job hazard analysis form to encourage em- ployees to think about site specific safety considerations on a daily or project basis. 5) Certifications: Are all crew certifications up to date or is it time to get some folks trained for the first time? First Aid, CPR/ AED, Wilderness First Responder, e-rail safe, BNSF Contractor Cards, flagging cer - tifications, TWIC cards, or _______? Fill in the blank with anything your crews might need to perform their jobs or save a life. 6) Office stuff: It’s not always our field crews who are at risk. Just look at the sta- tistics on the age of surveyors! None of us are getting any younger, so that list of first aid stuff, CPR/AED, trip and fall haz - ards, and general awareness applies to your office staff as much as it does the field crews. Safety is a job for everyone. Don’t forget to consider your office ergo - nomics to keep people comfortable and productive as well as keeping them safe from fine motor repetitive motion inju - ries and general fatigue. There are many resources available to assist with prop- erly configuring an ergonomic personal work space, so take advantage of those free resources. As we dust off from one of the craziest years we’ve ever seen, let’s ensure we con- tinue to protect the health and safety of all of our staff as we transition to whatever “normal” is going to look like. x