On-the-Job
Daily planning and frequent communication keep everyone focused on quality, safety, and productivity. Execution and trouble-shooting becomes everyone’s responsibility.
“We do a daily planning with the workers. Every morning we get the crew together and they plan what they’re going to do for the day. It’s in writing. They discuss the type of work that’s going to be performed, what kind of materials handling, the whole nine yards for the day. [And they] sign off at the end of the day that they were successful.” (CPWR Contractor Interview, January 2017)
Key Steps & Helpful Resources
1. At the beginning and end of each day review materials handling tasks, responsibilities, schedules, and equipment for the current day and the next to ensure that all employees – supervisors, foremen, and workers – know:
- Where the materials will be delivered and/or stored
- How the materials will be moved to reduce manual handling
- The location and availability of equipment that will be used to move and handle materials
- How the team will respond to materials handling risks that are identified. The following training resources may help:
- Supervisor/Foreman Training (key scenarios to focus on – Introduction; “Gimme Space”; “Do We Have To?; “Fritz’s Shortcut”)
- Toolbox Talk in Spanish and English
- Hazard Alert Card in Spanish and English
- Lift Coach Games
- More training resources
2. Ask your employees for their ideas on how to improve manual materials handling to avoid injury and improve productivity.
3. Share your plan with the GC and other contractors in the area to avoid conflicting schedules that could slow down your work and theirs.
4. Monitor your plan to be sure it is being implemented correctly. Download a copy of the Manual Materials Handling Workbook. This Excel workbook contains worksheets to help you plan for and keep track of manual materials handling for each stage of your project. The 3rd worksheet “On-the-Job Materials Handling” builds on the information contained in the earlier planning worksheets. Or use the stand-alone “Daily Materials Handling Checklist” to identify and prevent manual materials handling risks. REMINDER: If you already downloaded the Workbook and used it for your Bid or Pre-Job planning, you do not need to download a new copy of the Workbook. Simply retrieve your saved copy and click on the On-the-Job worksheet. Key information from your Stage 2 – Pre-job worksheet will automatically appear in the Stage 3 – On-the-Job worksheet. Remember, you can use one or all of the worksheets.