Featured image: Courtesy Construction Safety Week
Each person on a cold-formed steel (CFS) framing job, regardless of their role, has a deep responsibility to take initiative, accountability and personal ownership in keeping their team and job site safe.
“We must work to create an environment that encourages communication, teamwork, sharing of ideas and perspectives and a commitment to listening and embracing every voice,” the Construction Safety Week website says.
“Value Every Voice”
The theme of Safety Week 2024 (May 6-10, 2024) is “Value Every Voice.” Safety Week organizers have provided toolbox talks, videos and other materials to help companies plan a special week. Here is a job site banner. And below are 5 toolbox talks to help enhance safety awareness.
Toolbox Talk 1: Driving Personal Ownership
Although the construction industry has extensive safety standards and procedures in place, serious accidents can occur at any time. It’s important that all accept a greater level of responsibility for their safety and the safety of others. “If you see it, you own it. If you walk by it, you condone it.”
Download the “Driving Personal Ownership” toolbox talk in English, Spanish and French.
Toolbox Talk 2: Encourage & Welcome New Ideas
Valuing every voice makes sure all team members have a chance to add ideas and are not restricted to the perceived best practice of the loudest voice on the crew. Instead, they are empowered to ask questions, challenge norms, share different ideas for improvement and solve problems.
Download the “Encourage & Welcome New Ideas” toolbox talk in English, Spanish and French.
Toolbox Talk 3: Embracing Every Voice
Embracing every voice creates an environment where team members feel valued. When people feel their voice is heard, employee morale and engagement improves, teams are more productive and more perspectives are brought into the conversation — the opposite when crews do not feel heard.
Download the “Embracing Every Voice” toolbox talk in English, Spanish and French.
Toolbox Talk 4: Strengthen Our Culture
Having an effective safety culture is a critical component of success. Communication is the key – trust is the cornerstone. The rewarding “I built that” message we give to friends and families is bound by a crew’s safe work habits. Build a safety culture into your company’s values.
Download the “Strengthen Our Culture” toolbox talk in English, Spanish and French.
Toolbox Talk 5: Thank You for Using Your Voice!
All have something to contribute when it comes to safety, and it’s important to demonstrate that every voice matters when forming a plan. Diversity of thought creates more solutions and helps teams to prevent incidents. Trust your team. Use your voice to raise concerns. Protect each other.
Download the “Thank You for Using Your Voice!” toolbox talk in English, Spanish and French.
Construction Safety WeekOrganizers of Construction Safety Week, May 6-10, 2024, have made a number of Safety Week tools and resources available, including safety tips, toolbox talks and best practices to support company events and communication. Safety Week is a show of force. It’s an opportunity for people, companies, and our entire industry to join together, celebrate and recommit to doing whatever it takes to send everyone home safely every day.
Additional Resources
- 5 Reasons Cold-Formed Steel Improves Job Site Safety
- Builders Embrace Steel Framing for Offsite Construction
- Advancing Steel Framing: SFIA Launches New Proprietary Structural Products Certification Program