The obvious maintenance issues, like brakes on trucks or a proper source of electricity, are usually attended to on a schedule. People are aware of their importance.
Extend this awareness to the smaller items which should be checked daily. If these safety items go unchecked, major injuries and property loss will occur.
Of course, each employee should check their safety equipment and personal protection for fit.
Assign someone to walk the perimeter of the site to assure safety fences, silt fences and security measures are in place and undamaged. Visually inspect any areas where fuel is supplied to assure no leaks have occurred and secondary containment is in place.
Regular maintenance as a daily pre-check list on any mobile equipment pays dividends. Check all fluids, greases, electrical connections, fuel supply, battery charge, brakes, tires, tracks and hydraulic systems. Failures in any of these items can cause catastrophic losses.
Power tools should be inspected daily. Are plugs properly grounded? How about the extension cords? Any cuts or nicks in any electrical cord? Are blades sharp and unbent?
Even hand tools need an inspection. Look for stress cracks in metals like hammers, chisels or screwdrivers. Check the grips for wear and slipperiness. Recheck the daily activity list and assure all tools, supplies, equipment and labor are on site.
Fix or replace defective items. Now work can begin and continue safely and uninterrupted.
Equipment suddenly shutting down or tools breaking during work can be avoided with inspections and maintenance. These incidents create unsafe work places. Loads shift and fall, shrapnel flies, saws lurch. All avoidable.
Consider these issues occurring while working around other people and their property, as is often the case on construction sites. Liability is quickly assigned to people who work with defective equipment and tools. Daily pre-work maintenance checks are essential to reducing liability and workers’ compensation claims.
