But onboarding isn’t just a box to check off the to-do list before work starts on a project– it’s a time for your HSE teams to communicate your companies safety plans, document all workers, and more.听

When companies mismanage their subcontract worker onboarding and orientation process, they open themselves up to risk. Poorly managed onboarding processes can lead to project delays, inefficiency, and even dangerous and deadly scenarios.听

In this article, we uncover the top six hidden risks found in most onboarding processes.听

Risk #1: The Problem with Collecting Subcontractor Paperwork in Onboarding

What percentage of your worker documentation are hard copies of essential documents and certifications? Are you scanning IDs when workers arrive on-site?听

If you’re still doing manual or even semi-manual onboarding, you likely have boxes and boxes of worker information sitting somewhere in, around, or near your worksite. Physical paperwork is a hassle, and it puts you at risk for more than just paper-cuts!听

This creates risk because paperwork is vulnerable to:

• Accidental destruction or misplaced papers
• Data breaches of workers’ personal information
• Poor filing practices leading to difficulty in retrieving info

Paperwork also has a significant impact on how quickly you can access information.听

There’s nothing quite like hearing stories from the field about worksites that get a stop-work order because of an incident, only for that work stoppage to continue longer than needed because someone can’t quickly find a worker’s records for the accident investigation.

By moving your records into a digital format, you can reduce these issues and add a layer of tracking, transparency, and accountability that can only really exist with information saved in a digital format.

Hidden Risk #2: Lack of Standard Processes in Subcontractor Onboarding

Establishing standards in onboarding is the process of making sure that every worker is delivered the same base level training regardless of the date they come on-site, who is doing the training, their primary language, or their aptitude for information retention.听

This is a major hidden risk if you rely on individuals for the daily delivery of your worker onboarding.听

Every day, in-person training brings different challenges鈥攚orkers with varying language barriers, different learning speeds, and different specialties and trades.听

Trainers have to deal with all of these individual differences between workers while coping with their own sets of stressors. Workers arriving late or in the middle of training, not being multilingual when their workforce is, or the general stress from spending time doing the training while the worksite is in total production all add up.

When standards for onboarding aren’t put into place, workers are less safe on-site – if a worker doesn’t fully understand a training, if it went too fast for them, or if the trainer forgot to present a section of information, that worker is inherently less safe on your worksite.听

Hidden Risk #3: Data Security

Any company, construction or not, knows that having their data secured is critical to protecting their business from significant risk.听

We’ve seen a trend with hackers taking over entire cities’ databases and holding that data for ransom. We also know that hackers are looking for vulnerabilities in corporate systems as well. When it comes to the onboarding of subcontract workers, it’s critical to understand that you are collecting personal听information from your workers and subcontractors that must be kept confidential and secure.听

If you are using an internal operation for onboarding subcontract workers, how do you know your data is secure? Is your internal solution trained in, or does it have the bandwidth to keep up on data security regulations and new or ongoing threats? Is it able to run penetration testing on their system to find and patch holes?听

Suppose your business uses third-party systems that were not built specifically for your use case or the construction business. In that case, you have to make sure you have someone on your team who is dedicated and trained to keep your solution secure, operational, and protected.听

Hidden Risk #4: The Timing of Onboarding

When new workers show up to start projects, it means vital safety personnel are conducting safety training, collecting documents, and filing paperwork for the first couple of hours of their workday.听

When a site’s foreperson or superintendent is in charge of conducting worker onboarding, you create additional risk for rework because they miss the critical first hour or two of the day when they need to observe and correct workers.

When your safety teams are stuck spending their time in a trailer or classroom, they can’t be looking for hazards and potential safety issues.听

Digital onboarding, whether it’s homegrown or through a platform purpose-built like听GoContactor, can cut down the amount of administrative time your safety team has to spend away from the active job site, a massive win for safety.听

Hidden Risk #5: Scaling and Supporting Your Onboarding Process

Manual onboarding does not scale. Meaning, you will have to keep adding people to the problem as you bring on new projects. Your safety personnel can’t be in two places at once, so you’re going to need to hire as your project count grows. People who understand this are often the ones that end up using a professionally created technology platform, mainly because they know that by paying for someone else to build, maintain and support a needed technology, they are also freeing themselves up to focus on what they and their business do best.听

At 皇家华人, we have an easy to reach, readily available support team to help answer basic questions that workers, subcontractors, and general contractors have. These can be anything from logging in to the platform, access certain training materials, or setting up onboarding for a new project.听

Hidden Risk #6: Your Industry Reputation with Workers and Subcontractors听

Finally, our last hidden risk is an interesting one – your reputation and brand within your industry with workers and subcontractors.听

As a general contractor, you are affected by the shortage of skilled workers in the construction industry. In the US alone, we’re looking to be between 400,000 to 1,000,000 workers short of what construction companies need to complete their projects on time and without rework.听

Construction workers today own smartphones and use the internet to make certain aspects of their lives more manageable than without technology. A majority of the workforce that companies are trying to attract into the construction world are “digital natives,” meaning they have no experience living in a world without the internet and have an innate reliance on computers and technology.听

This coveted group of desperately needed recruits for the construction industry will be looking to their employer to provide digital tools to complete their work wherever possible. Onboarding should be one of the first impressions you have on any worker, and in turn, will be the first step in a worker or even manager deciding if they want to work on future projects with your company.

We’d argue that a digital onboarding that allows these workers to complete their onboarding and training at their own pace, in their language, and at a time and a place they choose will leave a better impression on those workers.听

Taking your onboarding online is a solid step in that direction and will help you build a stronger employer brand over the long term.听

With 皇家华人 – a digital onboarding platform specifically built for construction teams – Contractors are able to onboard their workers and subs before they ever step foot on the construction site. Ensuring that workers are 100% compliant and that worker data is stored digitally are just a few of the ways that 皇家华人 reduces risk and removes the headaches of onboarding. and speak one on one with an onboarding expert about how 皇家华人 can help your construction business.

The post 6 Hidden Risks in Your Subcontractor Onboarding appeared first on 皇家华人.

An indisputable reality is that construction comes with an overwhelming amount of in all areas of its business. 

Risk presents itself in construction in many ways. For example, it could result from unorganized manual or digital record-keeping, time-sensitive contracts, competitors, pressure to work faster while reducing cost, health and safety regulations, and so much more. 

Avoiding risk is essential in construction, so what do you need to know in 2021-2022 to avoid or limit your risk exposure? Here’s what to expect and how to prepare yourself.

Construction Risks 2021-2022: Pandemic and post-pandemic operations

As new variants of the virus pop up around the globe and vaccinations continue to roll out, it’s clear we are not yet post-pandemic but still very much in the thick of it. COVID-19 is a continual operational risk and an additional stressor on the growing skilled labor shortage. From unsafe working conditions to vaccine mandates, the global pandemic continues to be an area construction must know how to navigate to mitigate risk. Additionally, supply chains still impacted by the pandemic can cause delays and cost overruns for your project.

Companies should utilize COVID safety measures for laborers and encourage open communication with employees to address and avoid any concerns. 

Managing and keeping a record of your subcontract workers

Your subcontract worker onboarding and orientations need to be a well-managed process. These are not times for workers to sign paperwork but rather learn about safety and hazards before beginning their work. 

Onboarding and orientations serve as an opportunity for your safety teams to relay and enforce your company’s safety plan and message. Without a dedicated process, some workers can fall through the cracks missing information. Are you considering your workers who may not speak English? How about those who can’t hear? How are you enabling them to learn about your safety plan?

In addition to this, your worker onboarding should be organized so that you have immediate access to all worker records, documents, entry logs, and more. Stop-work orders that will arise because of an incident put you at risk for a continued work stoppage. For the most part, these stop-work orders can stand much longer than needed because someone can’t quickly find a worker’s records for the accident investigation.

By moving your records into a digital platform, such as 皇家华人, you can lessen these concerns and add a layer of tracking, clarity, and responsibility that can only exist with digitized information.

Data management and cyber-security

As more processes move online and more technology is adopted by the construction industry, many wonder about the security of those tools and their information. 

Sure, many ConTech solutions provide more efficiency, reduce costs, and increase safety, but how can you ensure the sensitive or confidential data you collect is stored safely?

A significant risk to be aware of in 2021 and beyond is the security of the digital platforms you choose. Construction companies should educate themselves on how their digital tools are also managing sensitive data. 

To reduce this risk, always inquire about how data is stored and protected. 

The post Construction Risks 2021-2022 appeared first on 皇家华人.

An EMR or听, sometimes called a MOD rating, helps determine the price of worker compensation insurance premiums.听

Your EMR is used almost like a credit score– meaning insurance or third-party companies use this score to determine what your potential for risk in the future might be. For construction, insurance companies use this score to understand your past cost of injuries and fatalities to determine your risk level and premiums.

What is a good EMR Rating or EMR score?

The average EMR score is 1.0. That means your company is no more or no less of a risk than other companies. When your score drops below 1.0, you are considered safer than others in the industry. Low scores often mean lower premiums, making attention to your EMR score significant.听

As a general contractor, your EMR score is essential. Many owners have EMR criteria or pre-qualification rules for their projects, choosing to work only with contractors with an EMR below 1.0.

When your EMR score goes above 1.0, you are considered riskier than other companies. This can affect your bidding on projects and your workforce retention.听

“An EMR of 1.2, for example, can mean that your insurance premiums could be up to 20% higher than a company with an EMR of 1.0, and that 20% difference must be passed on to clients in the form of increase bid prices.”听

Calculating your EMR

Insurance and workers鈥� compensation claims reported to the听听(NCCI) from the last five years determine your EMR Rating or EMR Score.听

Keep in mind, insurance companies use claim info from only the three years prior. So if you’re policy is due to renew in 2021, for example, the insurance company will look at your claims from 2016, 2017, and 2018.听

Each claim in that timefram is then analyzed under a deeply involved EMR worksheet that considers circumstances such as incident types and financial value of claims paid out. The size of your payroll also will affect your EMR score or EMR rating.听

How to lower your EMR score or EMR rating

Companies can lower their EMR score or EMR rating, and thus reduce their premiums, first and foremost with improved safety training and process. Safer work sites reduce the amount of claims submitted, as it lessens the potential and risk for injuries from common worksite hazards.听

The post What is an EMR Rating or EMR Score? appeared first on 皇家华人.

A construction onboarding is often the first thing a trade, contractor or construction worker will do before they step foot on a construction site to start working. In the past, workers often gathered into jobsite trailers to receive this onboarding and orientation from various safety managers. Unfortunately, this traditional in-person onboarding method takes time, it can also lead to gaps in education due to language differences and an increased risk of project delays due to inconsistent delivery. 

But now, with apps available for download like 皇家华人 Connect, workers can complete site onboarding from their mobile device, in a standard, simplifed format. By using the 皇家华人 Connect app, construction companies have a digital overview of every qualified worker on their projects.听

What is 皇家华人 Connect?

皇家华人 Connect is the easiest way for trade, contractor, and construction workers to complete your worksite onboarding using their Apple or Android device. This app is free to download for workers and allows them to:

• Upload required documents and qualifications, such as OSHA certificates, Safepass, and more.
• Complete standard training courses and site orientations developed uniquely for that project
• Provide digital identification when they arrive on site
• Access safety training in their desired language and use accessibility features such as text-to-speech
• Complete site safety quizzes and safety questionnaires听

The benefits of digital worker onboarding on a mobile device

Onboarding a subcontracted workforce safely and productively is critical for effective site safety management. Poor onboarding can lead to costly delays, such as injuries or stop-work orders, so it’s essential to manage this process correctly. But doing so isn’t always easy. 

Safety teams interact with contractors in a limited time frame, less so than they do with their employees. Laborers have different skill sets, and often are working on different locations or scopes of the project. On some sites, many of the workers may not speak English, creating a language barrier and misunderstanding in their safety training and orientation. 

Nevertheless, it鈥檚 critical to onboard every worker on the job site in a safe, orderly manner.听

Digital solutions like the 皇家华人 Connect app makes onboarding workers easy for construction companies while also giving workers an easy way to complete their site orientation. 

Benefits for trade, contract, and construction workers:

• Access to site orientation before stepping foot on the job site
• Ability to quickly upload certifications, ID, and other required documents
• Available at any time and can be completed at your own pace
• Ability to complete course in the chosen language
• Digital card to show you are qualified to be on the job site

Benefits for construction companies:

• Digital record of all worker documents and safety training
• Ability to see at a glance what percentage of your workers are qualified and safety compliant
• Offer standard onboarding experience to all workers on a job site
• Reduce onboarding time 
• Alleviate administrative work 
• Integrate with your access control systems or other apps like Procore

How do you use the 皇家华人 Connect App?

皇家华人 Connect is free for all workers to download. To access the app, download from your app store on your Android or iOS device. 

After downloading, workers can create or log into an existing 皇家华人 account. 

Once logged in, workers are taken directly to the ‘My Invite’ page to accept a project invite or enter an invitation code. Then, by clicking ‘Go’ on the invitation, workers can access their site orientation and get started. 

Uploading a qualification

After 鈥楪etting Started鈥� and clicking 鈥楪o鈥� on the invitation page, workers can click the 鈥楽tart Here鈥� Button on the project page. After doing so, they can upload requested documents by clicking the 鈥楢dd Document鈥� button and answering other related questions on the page. 

Completing safety training

After uploading any required qualification, users are taken to the start course page for project that require safety training. Here they can review slides or videos with important information. 

Complete a Quiz:

After completing your course, you can then quiz users on the subject matter. This is a great way to stress the importance of safety practices, like working at heights, avoiding electrical shock, being aware of struck-by-hazards, and more. 

Check In/Check Out

Using the 皇家华人 Connect App, workers can also check in or out of your project. This is done by navigating to the profile page and selecting the ‘Check-in’ button. Then, after answering all required checklist questions and clicking the ‘Confirm’ button, they will be checked in to your project. 

Where to download 皇家华人 Connect?

It鈥檚 free to download the 皇家华人 Connect App and create an account.

听

听

听

The post What is the 皇家华人 Connect App? appeared first on 皇家华人.

June is Pride Month, a celebration across the globe supporting, honoring, and recognizing the LGBTQ+ community. Organizations, communities, and workplaces around the world use this time to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community. 

wholeheartedly supports and encourages a diverse and inclusive workplace. We believe it’s critical for organizations to not only openly voice their support to the LGBTQ+ community, but to also take meaningful action through education, donation, and resource sharing. Keep reading for our suggested LGBTQ+ resources in construction. 

What is pride month and why do we celebrate?

LGBTQ+ Pride Month听started in the U.S. to honor the riots that happened in June 1969. The riots were a series of impromptu demonstrations by members of the LGBTQ+ community in response to a police raid at the Stonewall Inn located in New York City.

As a result, June is now celebrated around the world as Pride month. During the month of June, events are held to celebrate and honor the impact LGBTQ+ people have made on the world. It also serves as a time to celebrate living life out loud, without fear of judgment, ridicule, or violence. 

What is diversity and inclusion training?

Diversity and inclusion training empowers employees to work harmoniously with others of differing abilities, backgrounds, nationalities, genders, sexual orientations, and more. Diversity and inclusion training, particularly at an executive level, is critical for a safe and workplace. 

Where can I find diversity and inclusion training?

There are many resources offering diversity and inclusion training, and even individuals that companies can employee or contract to help lead this training for them. Linked below are suggested places to start to learn more about diversity and inclusion training: 

What should I include in a Pride Toolbox Talk?

For years, construction workers, like many other employees, have experienced the risk of bullying and even termination as a result of their sexual orientation or gender identity. 

From , “Jackie Richter, who was transitioning from male to female at the time, says a concrete contractor who wanted to hire her said, 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got the experience, you鈥檝e got the knowledge, and you鈥檇 be a great part of our team 鈥� but leave your girl clothes home and come as a man.鈥� The same year, a successful architect, who wishes to remain anonymous due to fear of reprisals, said he was fired when the owners of his company monitored his texts and found out he was gay.”听

Speaking about inclusion in the workplace is critical for safe work environments, particularly for the LGBTQ+ community. That’s why toolbox talks on the matter are essential. Persons at every level in an organization should be aware that discrimination in any manner is unacceptable, and that there is zero tolerance for bullying, ostracizing, or firing a person based solely on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Your toolbox talk should cover the following:

1. History of Pride Month and why it’s celebrated
2. Introduction and overview of
3. Your company’s dedication to the inclusion of all individuals
4. Your company’s no-tolerance policy
5. Resources for employees to learn more or access support 

Where can I find LGBTQ+ Resources in construction?

Resources for LGBTQ+ persons and allies specific to construction are out there. We suggest checking out these non-profits who focus directly on supporting LBGTQ+ individuals in the construction industry:

1. is a national, nonprofit, inclusive network for professionals working in the fields of civil engineering, architecture, urban planning, geosciences, and construction. This organization shares many resources all professionals in the construction industry can utilize. We suggest joining their mailing list to receive updates and resources.听
2. promotes and advocates for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community within the building design and construction industry. Their members create an environment where people work openly and with pride across all roles and sectors of the industry. The organization leads by example in their own work environments and through partnerships with community organizations. Build out Alliance hosts many events throughout the year to educate, support, and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community in the built world.听

The post LGBTQ+ Construction Resources appeared first on 皇家华人.

In this article, we provide an excerpt from the interview, you can listen to the complete interview discussing construction jobsite safety and onboarding below:

Disrupting Construction: Jobsite Safety and Onboarding

Hugh: Let鈥檚 talk a little bit about construction jobsite safety in construction. Tell me what’s going on now and how your team is addressing it.

John: Safety is incredibly important in construction. A quarter of all workplace fatalities in the US in work settings happen in construction. So it鈥檚 clearly a big issue. There’s increasing safety requirements landing on the jobsite and on construction companies because of that. And so, the US in particular, is taking the lead from some other countries that are a little more advanced in terms of safety regulations, but catching up really quickly. What that means is bigger compliance overhead, and a burden on construction companies and really the requirement to prove what they’ve done and whether they鈥檝e made sure their sites are safe and that every worker or visitor walking on to a construction site is doing so safely.听

Hugh: On your , you guys mention something that I thought was interesting, and the first thing you talk about is onboarding. Given what you just said, that kinda implies that one piece of the issue out there is if it’s the same people on site day in day out, that’s fine, but that’s not what happens. You constantly have people coming and going, and at the end of the day, it鈥檚 the GC who is responsible for this. So what does that look like?

John: There鈥檚 a big turnover on the jobsite of workers, and whether that’s just two different trades being required at different times or subs sending different workers on different days, there鈥檚 a constant flow as you say of new people to the jobsite. So you are going to look at the industry being quite unsafe in terms of injuries and fatalities. Then you look at the fact that the highest risk period for a worker is when they first step on to that jobsite and the stats also show you the majority of construction accidents happen with workers that are in their first year of working in the industry. It all adds up; you really need to prepare workers for what to expect when walking on to each individual site.

Hugh: What sorts of things are you preparing them with? Are you preparing them with, let’s say I’m a pipe-fitter, and I come to a jobsite and I probably have been on jobsites so what sort of things are necessary?

John: We focus on the site orientation, and that鈥檚 regionally specific. It鈥檚 site orientation in the US, and if you’re in the UK site, it’s induction. It’s basically the same concept. It’s the obligation of the general contractor to deliver a site-specific safety orientation that alerts the worker to the dangers of that specific jobsite or the evacuation plan, various different elements of safety in relation to the site. What we’re able to do is if you take what you said there in terms of a trade worker walking on-site, you typically need to receive that information, get registered or on-boarded for that specific jobsite. That means handing over their ID, collecting their certs and their qualifications, and OSHA card. It鈥檚 a bunch of compliance information and then there’s the imparting of safety knowledge. At 皇家华人, we aim to take all of that, move it off-site and move it online so that it can be consumed and completed ahead of time right before the workers shows up at the jobsite… effectively everyone’s pre-qualified before they show up at the gate at the job.听

Hugh: Yeah. You might hear, 鈥淲ell, people show up in person and they have all that stuff. It all works out, I don’t see the need for all this.鈥� but what really happens?

John: That鈥檚 a good question, ideally you can have a process set up so that it flows and follows the true traditional paper-based and in-person process. The reality is people show up at different times…so you might want to have a start time of 6 a.m. or 7 a.m. for your jobsite, but invariably people get delayed, show up at different times, and have to repeat that process or stop it and accommodate someone coming in, particularly if you’re delivering training, it’s probably got to be delivered several times. There鈥檚 a lot of administrative work that goes into onboarding new contractors and a lot of risk. Forgotten documentation, people showing up who may learn differently, and as a result, may not have a really high quality experience. That could be a real issue, for example, if you have workers showing up who speak different languages.

Hear the entire interview by listening to the above.

Interested in learning more about construction jobsite safety and other industry topics? You can listen or subscribe to the Constructed Futures Podcast .

The post Disrupting Construction: Jobsite Safety and Onboarding appeared first on 皇家华人.

If you’ve worked on any heavy industry job site, you’re probably already familiar with these top hazards. However, regardless of whether you’re aware of these hazards, it is crucial to keep these risks top of mind whenever you’re entering or working on a job site.听

Regular training to promote awareness of these hazards is essential for a safe job site. If you want your safety plan to succeed, you’ll need to cover these topics in your safety plans on a regular basis.听

In this article, we cover everything you need for an effective OSHA Fatal Four Safety Training.听

What are the OSHA Fatal Four?

The OSHA fatal four are the top hazards that most commonly resuly in death on a job site. These include falls, struck-by, caught in between, and electrocution incidents. The most deadly and most common risk on a job site are fall incidents.听

1. Falls

A fall can be anything on your job that could cause you to lose your balance, resulting in a fall. Any working or walking surface is a potential fall risk. When working at heights of just four feet and above, you are at risk of a fall injury.听In construction, OSHA requires employers to provide workers with fall protection at six feet.听

Where to find safety training on fall incidents:

To adequately train workers on fall hazards, safety managers should cover the definition of falls, fall hazard statistics, fall hazard scenarios, fall hazard risks, and how to prevent and stay safe from fall hazards. All of these topics are included in our听Fall Tool Box Talk blog post.听

Download our Fall Safety Training Video Free

The next top hazard of the OSHA Fatal Four is Struck-by hazards.听

2. Stuck-by

A struck-by hazard is when an object’s impact causes harm. Any impact between a person and an object is considered a struck-by hazard or incident. It’s common for struck-by hazards to be confused with caught-in-between hazards, which we will cover later on in this article. It’s important to both know and establish the difference between the two. For example, when an injury happens because someone is crushed between objects, that is a considered a caught in-between hazard, not a struck-by.

Where to find safety training on struck-by incidents:

An effective safety training discussing struck-by incidents, the second of the OSHA fatal four, will need to cover the meaning of a struck-by incident, where and how struck by incidents can occur on a job site, struck-by statistics, and how to prevent struck-by incidents. You can find all of this information and more in our听Guide to Struck-by Hazards Safety Training听article.听

The third of the OSHA Fatal Four Hazards are electrocution hazards. These hazards are common on job sites, and often deadly.听

3. Electrocution

Electrocution, in this context, results when a worker is exposed to a lethal amount of electrical energy. An electrical hazard on a job site can cause burns, electric shock, arc flash or blast, fire, or even explosions.听

Where to find safety training on electrocution hazards

One common mnemonic device to remember electrocution hazards is, “BE SAFE” which stands for burns, electrocution, shock, arc flash/blast, fire, and explosions. Safety plans that cover the definition of electrocution hazards, examples of hazards most commonly found on job sites, and how to avoid and prevent electrocution hazards are effective ways to keep workers safe and injury-free.听A complete guide to electrocution safety training can be found here.听

Finally, the last of the OSHA Fatal Four hazards on a job site is caught in between incidents.听

4. Caught in between

According to听, caught-in or 鈥� between hazards are injuries resulting from a person being squeezed, caught, crushed, pinched, or compressed between two or more objects or between parts of an object.听

When you get caught or crushed in operating machinery, between other objects, within a moving and stationary object, or between two or more moving objects, this is considered a caught-on or -between hazard.听

Where to find safety training on caught in between hazards

Caught in between hazards can be fatal, or life changing. Imagine losing a limb one day on a work site… these are the real risks that exist on a job site everyday if you’re not careful. Caught in between training should include real life examples to drive home the dangers of these hazards. Safety training should also include its definition, examples of hazards on job sites, and of course, how to avoid and prevent caught in between hazards.听

You can find all of these topics covered in our Caught In Between Hazard Safety Training Guide here.听

How to provide training to your workers

Regular toolbox talks on these topics prove to be an effective way to refresh the memories of workers on OSHA’s fatal four hazards on a job site. If you’re looking for a digital solution that provides standardization and consistency (meaning every worker on every job site will receive the same consistent message) consider online solutions like 皇家华人, which can take your safety training online, giving every workers and subcontractor on your job site access to your consistent and effective safety plan.听

Creating safety training in 皇家华人 is simple. In this article we show you听how to create an orientation in our easy-to-use platform.

The post The Ultimate Guide to OSHA Fatal Four Safety Training appeared first on 皇家华人.

Distracted, the worker let his left thumb slip in between the saw. The saw cut his thumb, and the worker’s thumb was amputated.

Can you imagine not having one of your thumbs?

Accidents like these are called caught in- or -between hazards.

In this blog post we’ll cover everything you need to know to avoid caught in- or -between hazards on a construction site.听

What is a caught-in or -between hazard?

The critical factor in deciding between a Caught-event and a Struck-event is whether the impact of the object alone caused the injury. When the impact creates an injury, the incident is reported as a Struck-event. When the incident results from crushing injuries between things, the event should be recorded as Caught-event.听

Events that should be recorded as Caught include:听听

• Cave-ins or trenching
• Being pulled into or caught in machinery and equipment, or strangulation when clothing gets caught in machinery
• Compression or crushed between rolling, sliding or shifting objects such as semi-trailers and a dock wall, or between a truck frame and a hydraulic bed that is lowering听

“Caught-in or – between hazards are injuries resulting from a person being squeezed, caught, crushed, pinched, or compressed between two or more objects or between parts of an object.”

When you get caught or crushed in operating equipment, between other mashing objects, between a moving and stationary object, or between two or more moving objects, this is considered a caught-on or -between hazard.听

Real-life examples of caught in-between accidents are just as grim and deadly as other fatal hazards, such as falls and electrocution.听

Example Incident

A worker climbed onto an I-beam to clean the tail pulley of a conveyor belt attached to a separator. While the conveyor system was energized and in operation, the employee reached between the feed and return of the belt in front of the tail pulley with his hand. The moving belt caught him, and his hand and arm were pulled into a pinch point in the tail pulley. As a result, the worker’s arm was fractured.听

Common types of caught-in or -between hazards in construction:

Some of the working conditions that contribute to caught in- or 鈥揵etween hazards include:听

• Machinery that has unguarded moving parts or that is not locked out during maintenance听
• Unprotected excavations and trenches
• Heavy equipment that tips over
• Collapsing walls during demolition
• Working between moving materials and immovable structures, vehicles, or equipment

Almost all sites use machinery that has moving or rotating parts or require maintenance or repair at some point during construction. If machinery is not adequately guarded or de-energized during maintenance or repair, injuries from caught-in or 鈥揵etween hazards could result, ranging from amputations and fractures to fatality.听

Unguarded machines or power tools can get clothing or parts of your body caught in the machines. If devices are not de-energized (locked-out) when they are under repair, they may cycle or otherwise turn on and grab a body part or clothing and cause injury or death. Workers can be trapped and crushed under heavy equipment that tips, especially if thrown from the equipment.听

The primary hazard related to buried in or by is cave-ins of unprotected trenches and excavations. Cave-ins can crush or suffocate you. Trenches may contain hazardous atmospheres; you can drown in water, sewage, or chemicals in the trenches; and if working around underground utilities, you could also face burns, electrocution, or explosions from steam, hot water, gas, or electricity. Those working underneath large scaffolds could be buried if the scaffold collapse. You may be buried and crushed by walls that collapse during demolition.听听

Any kind of caught in-between hazard can result in multiple broken bones, asphyxiation, or death.

How to prevent and protect against caught-in or -between hazards:

• Use machinery that is properly guarded听听
• Never remove a safety guard when a tool is in use听
• Hazardous moving parts of power tools and equipment need to be safeguarded听
• Belts, gears, shafts, pulleys, sprockets, spindles, drums, flywheels, chains, or other reciprocating, rotating, or moving parts of equipment, must be guarded if you are exposed to contact by such parts.
• Avoid wearing loose clothing or jewelry that can be caught in moving parts.听
• Make sure that your equipment is de-energized and cannot start accidentally. First, disconnect tools when not in use before servicing and changing accessories such as blades, bits, and cutters.听
• Turn off vehicles before you do maintenance or repair work. If possible, lock out the power source to the equipment. The type of power source may be electric, pneumatic, liquid fuel, hydraulic, or powder-actuated. Lower or block the blades of bulldozers, scrapers, and similar equipment before making repairs or when the equipment is not in use.听
• Protect yourself from being pinned between equipment, materials, or other objects听听
• Be aware at all times of the equipment around you and stay a safe distance from it.听听
• Never place yourself between moving materials and an immovable structure, vehicle, or stacked materials.听听
• Ensure that all loads carried by equipment are stable and secure. Stay out of the swing radius of cranes and other equipment. Wear a seatbelt, if required, to avoid being thrown from a vehicle and then potentially being crushed by the vehicle if it tips over听
• Protect yourself on excavation sites and do not work in an unprotected trench that is 5 feet deep or more.听

The following type of protection may be of use to prevent getting caught in or between:

• Sloping or benching Can also reduce your likelihood of being caught in or between.听
• Sloping is cutting back the sides of the trench to a safe angle so it won’t collapse.听
• Benching uses a series of steps that approximate the safe sloping angle. The angle depends on the soil type.听听
• Trench boxes or shields are also great for protecting those who are in them if a cave-in happens.听听
• You should always enter or exit a trench or excavation only by using a ladder, stairway, or properly designed ramp placed within the trench’s protected area.听听
• Do not work outside of the confines of the protection system
• Make sure you have the proper training on the equipment and hazards of your job so that you can do your work safely.

Not one person wants to see an injury or loss of life on a construction site. By utilizing these precautionary actions learned in this video, you can help save lives and make construction sites safe for everyone.听

The post Your Guide to Caught in- or -Between Hazards appeared first on 皇家华人.

One of the deadliest hazards on a construction site is electrocution. Because injuries and fatalities are common, safety managers need to hold regular Toolbox Talks on this topic.听

Hosting regular talks on the deadliest hazards on a construction site, like falls, or struck-by incidents, can seriously boost the level of safety on your job site. In this article, we detail everything you should include in your next Electrocution Toolbox Talk.

“Temperatures have been recorded as high as 35,000 掳F. High-voltage arcs can also produce considerable pressure waves by rapidly heating the air and creating a blast.” OSHA

We cover:

• What is an electrocution hazard?听
• What is BE SAFE
• OSHA Electrocution hazard example
• What are the top electrocution hazards in construction?
• How workers can prevent themselves from electrocution hazards

What is an electrocution hazard?听

Electrocution, in this context, results when a worker is exposed to a lethal amount of electrical energy.听

An electrical hazard on a job site can cause:

• Burns听
• Electrocution听听
• Shock听听
• Arc Flash/Arc Blast听听
• Fire听听
• Explosions

OSHA Electrocution hazard example:

Two workers were moving an aluminum ladder. One of them was electrocuted when the ladder came in contact with overhead power lines. This simple oversight can lead to serious injury or even death.

Most common electrocution hazards:

The major types of electrocution hazards in construction include:

• Contact with overhead power lines听
• Contact with energized sources, like defective equipment, open sockets, or tools
• Improper use of extension and flexible cords听

Overhead and Buried Power Lines

Overhead and buried power lines are dangerous because they transmit extremely high voltage. Deaths by electrocution are the main risk, but burns and falls from height are also hazardous workers while working on or nearby high voltage power lines.

Power lines are accessible not only by cranes but also ladders and suspended man-baskets directly under or nearby a power line also puts workers at risk of electrocution.听

Coverings on overhead power lines are mostly used for protection from weather conditions and not for protection from human touch. Remind workers that touching a powerline, regardless of whether it is covered or not, is deadly.听

Electrical Shock:

The top hazards surrounding contact with an energized source is the risk of an electrical shock or burn. Shock happens when the body becomes part of the electric circuit.听

The potential danger of an electrical shock depends on several circumstances, such as the pathway through the body, the amount of current, the length of the exposure, and whether the skin is wet or dry. Water is a great conductor of electricity, allowing current to flow more easily in wet conditions and through wet skin.听

Electrical Burns

Electrical burns can be arc burns, thermal contact burns, or a combination of burns.听

Electrical burns are among the most serious burns and require immediate medical attention. They occur when an electric current flows through tissue or bone, generating heat that causes tissue damage. The body cannot dissipate the heat generated by current flowing through the tissue’s resistance; therefore, burns occur.听

How workers can prevent themselves from electrocution hazards:

Workers should:

• Maintain a safe distance from overhead power lines听
• Use ground-fault circuit interrupters or (GFCI)听
• Inspect portable tools and extension cords听
• Use power tools and equipment as designed听
• Follow lockout/Tagout procedures听

Before work begins, be sure that the:听

• Equipment/activity is located within a safe working distance from power lines听
• Utility company has de-energized and visibly grounded the power lines or installed insulated sleeves on power lines听
• Flagged warning lines have been installed to mark horizontal and vertical power line clearance distances
• 听Tools and materials used are non-conductive听

For Cranes and other high reaching equipment

• Be sure the utility company has confirmed the voltage and, therefore, the power lines’ safe working distance.
• If applicable and feasible, use an: observer, insulated link; boom cage guard; proximity device.听
• If provided, Mobile heavy equipment use installed rider posts under power lines to avoid working too close to the power lines.听
• For Ladders Use non-conductive ladders and be sure to retract them before moving.听
• When considering Material storage, ensure that no materials are stored under power lines.听
• Use caution tape and signs to guard off the area under power lines.听

For Excavations听

Locate and know what the local underground line locator service markings have marked before digging. Hand dig within three feet of cable location. Be aware that multiple underground cables can be buried in the area of locator markings

The post Your Guide to Electrocution Hazards Toolbox Talk appeared first on 皇家华人.

If you’re a woman in construction, seeking community, support, events, and accessible education may help advance your career. Not to mention, connecting with and learning from other women in the field is essential to your success and the advancement of women in the industry.

The following resources for women in construction can help you connect with others in the field, learn more about other areas of the industry you may not be familiar with, and more.听听

First and foremost, joining an association specifically for women can be a great way to meet other women in the industry, network, and find new opportunities within the field. Second, immersing yourself in industry news, blogs, and podcasts can help you stay in touch with what’s happening both within the industry and on other projects. Keep reading for our top association recommendations, blogs, podcasts, and more to stay involved with other women in the industry.

Resources for Women in Construction

Associations

Blogs and Podcasts

What to read

If you’re looking for inspiration or a more in-depth understanding of sexism in the workplace check out the book below:

Amy Farrell worked in construction when sexism in the industry was more than just a stereotype. It was a harsh reality. Farrell details her work in construction during this time. Men would tell Farrell, “Women in work boots and hard hats belong in nude calendars, not on real construction jobs,” … The book does a phenomenal job of showing how to overcome the challenges of the construction industry and sexism in the workplace.听

Outside of construction,听听could also help inspire you.

How to get involved

If you’re looking for ways to help other women in the industry, provide a resource for women in construction, or are a woman looking to enter the construction work force, there are tons of organizations to become involved with. One of our favorites is the NEW organization based out of New York.听

听develops, educates, and places women in careers in the skilled construction, utility, and maintenance trades. This helps to directly improve economic independence for women as well as provide a secure future career for women.听

The post Resources for Women in Construction appeared first on 皇家华人.

There may not be a mandate for you to carry out toolbox talks, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be doing them regularly, if not daily.

Setting aside time to check-in and talk about important topics that directly relate to what construction crews are working on can severely boost the level of safety on your job site.听

So, what to talk about? Using these short-but-important safety moments on your projects is critical for safety, so naturally, regularly covering the top reasons for injury and fatality is a good place to start as well as keep in your toolbox talk rotation.

Read here: Fall Hazard Toolbox Talk Outline.

In this article, we discuss a top construction project hazard: the Struck-by hazard.

What is a struck-by hazard?

A struck-by hazard is when an impact from an object alone causes harm. When the impact alone causes injury, you’ve got a struck-by incident on your hands. Any impact between a person and an object/piece of equipment would be considered a struck-by hazard.

Struck-by hazards shouldn’t be confused with a caught-in-between hazard. For example, when an injury happens because someone is crushed between objects, that is a considered a caught hazard.

Type of struck-by hazards:

• Struck-by flying object听听
• Struck-by falling object听听
• Struck-by swinging object听听
• Stuck-by rolling object听

Example of struck-by in constructions:

Struck-by hazards on construction sites could look like the following:听听

A construction worker is lifting bricks in a bucket to the top of a building. The bucket tipped, and the bricks dropped out of the bucket, knocking the worker on the head. The worker sustained blunt force trauma to his head and later died in the hospital.

Six workers are installing signs on a highway when an incoming truck switches multiple lanes and mistakenly enters their work area. The truck hits one of the workers, thumping him off the road and over a bridge rail. He falls around 26 ft and dies.听听

What are the top types of struck-by hazards in construction?听

• Struck-by flying object听
• Struck-by falling object听
• Struck-by swinging object听
• Struck-by rolling object

Struck-by flying object example:

When a flying object hazard occurs, it’s when an item or object is thrown, flung, or launched through space. It can involve situations when a piece of material separates from a tool or machine, striking a person and causing injury or fatality.

This can even happen with power by a tool, so it’s important to know the damage your equipment may have. For example, a nail from a nail gun if the nail is propelled from the gun by force and discharges. When working with tools, be aware of fasteners that are designed to go through concrete and steel… If it can go through those materials, it can most definitely go through another person.听

Using compressed air for power tools or cleaning can also cause flying object hazards.听

How to protect workers from struck-by hazards suggested by :

• When you’re around Heavy equipment [cranes, excavators, etc.]听
• Stay away from heavy equipment when in operation.听
• Stay clear of lifted loads and never work under a suspended load.听
• Beware of unbalanced loads.听
• Workers should confirm and receive an acknowledgment from the heavy equipment operator that they are visible.听
• Be aware of the swing radius of cranes and backhoes and do not enter that zone.
• Drive equipment [or vehicles] on grades or roadways that are safely constructed and maintained听
• Make sure that all workers and other personnel are in the clear before using dumping or lifting devices.听
• Lower or block bulldozer and scraper blades, end-loader buckets, dump bodies, etc., when not in use, and leave all controls in a neutral position.听
• Haulage vehicles loaded by cranes, power shovels, loaders, etc., must have a cab shield or canopy that protects the driver from falling materials.听
• Do not exceed a vehicle’s rated load or lift capacity.听
• Do not carry personnel unless there is a safe place to ride.

How workers can avoid hazards, suggested by :

• Wear seat belts when provided听
• Check vehicles before each shift to assure that all parts and accessories are in safe operating condition听
• Do not drive a vehicle in reverse gear with an obstructed rear view unless it has an audible reverse alarm or another worker signals that it is safe听
• Set parking brakes when vehicles and equipment are parked, and chock the wheels if they are on an incline
• All vehicles must have adequate braking systems and other safety devices听
• Use traffic signs, barricades, or flaggers when construction takes place near public roadways听
• Workers must be visible in all levels of light. Warning clothing, such as red or orange vests, are required; and if worn for night work, must be of reflective material听

When working on or near any construction zone:听

• Wear high-visibility reflective clothing听
• Do not put yourself at risk of being struck by a vehicle and do not get caught in a situation where there’s no escape route
• Do not direct traffic unless you are the flagger听
• Check that necessary warning signs are posted听
• Never cross the path of a backing vehicle
• Follow “Exit” and “Entry” worksite traffic plan

PPE for struck-by: Eye and face protection

Safety glasses or goggles should be used any time work operations present an eye injury risk 鈥� this can be during welding, cutting, grinding, nailing, or even when working with power tools.听

Wearing hard hats anywhere on a construction site is a no-brainer, but there is a more prominent need for head protection near potential falling objects.

The post Your Guide to a Struck-by Toolbox Talk appeared first on 皇家华人.

That’s right, 5,333 workers.听

How many of those deaths could have been prevented?听

Many HSE professionals are left wondering this same question when coming across disheartening and unfortunate statistics regarding worker deaths on the job site.

The truth is, accidents happen. But with consistent safety training and a stern, serious message with helpful prevention tips, managers can prevent and reduce the number of accidents…and even deaths… on construction projects.听听

This blog will cover the leading cause of job site accidents and deaths, part of the well-known ‘Fatal Four’ by OSHA, Falls. We’ll give you an overview of falls, fall prevention, as well as cover what you need to include in your next Fall Toolbox Talk.听

Falls are the most likely incident to cause an injury or fatality on a construction project. Construction workers die as a result of falls more than any other hazard on a job site.听

Fall hazards exist on nearly every construction project. Many of us, both managers and workers, are exposed to fall hazards daily.听

A fall hazard includes anything on your worksite that could cause you to lose your balance, resulting in a fall.听

Any walking or working surface is a potential fall hazard. When working at heights of four feet or more, you are at risk. In construction, OSHA requires employers to provide workers with fall protection at six feet.听

No matter the fall distance, fall protection must be supplied when working over unsafe equipment and machinery.

Hazard Examples to include in Fall Toolbox Talk

Examples of fall hazards in construction are common. Let’s say, for example, four workers stand on a makeshift scaffold. The scaffold suddenly collapses under the weight of the four workers and their equipment, seriously harming all four involved. This is an example of a fall hazard.听

Another example is when a worker is carrying a sheet of plywood. If they walk on a flat roof but accidentally steps into the roof’s skylight opening, the worker would fall to the level below, causing serious harm to himself and those around him.

These are scary events that have happened on many construction sites.

Some of the most common incidents:

• Falls from elevation or ground level to lower levels听
• Falls through existing floor or roof openings (such as skylights, etc.)听听
• Falls through the floor or roof surface (like when a floor or roof collapses)听
• Fall on the same level (where the point of contact was the same level supporting the individual) and
• Jumps from structures and equipment听

Falls are much more prevalent than many think, that’s why it’s critical to have a fall toolbox talk!

The top types of fall hazards in construction:听

• Unprotected roof听
• Improper scaffold construction and
• Unsafe portable ladders听

Without fall protection or safe work site access, work becomes hazardous. Falls from poorly constructed scaffolds can result in injuries varying from sprains to death.听

That’s why Guardrails, or personal fall arrest systems for fall prevention/protection, are required on platforms 10 feet or higher for workers.

The majority of those injured in scaffold accidents credited the accident to factors such as the planking or support giving way or lack of guardrails or other fall protection.听

OSHA’s most frequently cited scaffold violations include:

• Lack of fall protection
• Scaffold access
• Use of aerial lifts without body belts and lanyards, platform construction, and no worker training

Nearly 40% of all deaths on a construction site are related to falls. These include workers who have fallen due to unprotected sides or holes, improperly constructed walking or working surfaces, the falling off of ladders, roofs, scaffolding, large skyscraper construction areas, and more, all due to a lack of adequate fall protection.

How can workers prevent falls?

Preventing falls is done through the use of fall protection equipment. This includes:

• Guardrail systems
• Safety net systems听
• Personal fall arrest systems

Guardrails

Guardrails are prevention systems because they stop you from ever falling in the first place.听

Safety net systems

Safety net systems catch you and break your fall. They must be placed as close as possible beneath your working surface, never more than 30 feet below.听听

Personal fall arrest system

A personal fall arrest system includes an anchorage, connectors, and full-body harnesses that work together to break your fall. Usually, it’s best to use fall prevention systems, such as guardrails, more so than fall protection systems, such as safety nets/fall arrest devices. This is a result of prevention systems providing more positive safety means.听

What to keep in mind:

Scaffolding

Scaffold work needs guardrails or a personal fall arrest system on any platform 10 feet or higher. It’s also important to never climb cross-bracing as a means of access. Your general contractor or the employer should provide safe access.听

Anchorage

The anchorage for a worker’s fall arrest equipment must be independent of any anchorage used to support or suspend platforms. It must be able to hold at least 5,000 lbs. per worker attached to it.听

Remember, every employer should provide workers with the assurance required to prevent falls at any job site. The first step in providing this assurance is discussing fall hazards and prevention in your next Fall Toolbox Talk!

The post Falls Toolbox Talk: What to cover appeared first on 皇家华人.

The post 皇家华人 announces Series A financing with $5 million investment appeared first on 皇家华人.

Have you struggled to manage your time as a safety professional? As someone who is often tasked with training, compliance, accident investigations, internal audits, and record-keeping, and a number of other responsibilities, it might seem like you have a never ending to-do list.听

You might even find yourself going home at the end of the day wondering what you accomplished. If your day was spent 鈥減utting out fires鈥� and handling the unexpected, you probably weren鈥檛 able to dedicate much time to the things that you had originally planned on doing.听

What you need is a health and safety plan that allows you to set daily, weekly, and monthly safety goals. By following a plan that helps you prioritize your tasks, you鈥檒l be setting yourself up with better job performance and overall project success.听

In this post, we鈥檒l be reviewing some simple tips and tricks as well as diving deep into structures and processes that can help you establish an effective health and safety plan.听

Health and Safety Plan: Tips and Tricks for Managing Your Day

First let鈥檚 review some simple tips and tricks for managing your day.听

Although your plan for the day will no doubt evolve as you get into it, many safety managers find that it can be helpful to at least start out with a list of things you hope to accomplish for the day. A simple checklist will do.听

Another tip is to set reminders on your phone or watch. Have a meeting coming up? Need to follow up with a vendor about a recent order for safety supplies? Setting a reminder will make sure these things don鈥檛 slip through the cracks and get forgotten.听

Something else you may want to think about is how you keep track of the questions and concerns that are brought to your attention throughout the day.听

Do you have a dedicated notebook for this? Or even better, a mobile app that you can use in the field? Without an organized system for keeping track of this information, you can easily forget to follow up on safety concerns, order PPE, or submit a ticket to the maintenance department to correct an unsafe condition.听

How to Set Health and Safety Plan Priorities and Accomplish Your Goals

Next, let鈥檚 review some of the ways you can set priorities and accomplish your goals throughout the days, weeks, and months.听

The first thing you need to do is make a list of the various tasks you are responsible for on a regular basis. It鈥檚 helpful to write it out and see everything listed in front of you.

Once you have a solid understanding of everything that could capture your attention throughout the day, you can start to create a plan that allows you to focus on your current goals and priorities.听

Of course, your main goal as a safety manager is to help your company and its employees avoid injuries, fines, and hazards. But this is an ongoing process. Over time, you will need to find ways to identify the most important use of your time.听

One way you can do this is by paying attention to the trends and data of everything going on at your workplace. Understanding the current data will help you prioritize your upcoming safety goals and initiatives.听

For instance, perhaps the data from incidents over the past three months shows an increase in hand injuries.听

You may need to take a closer look at the root cause and determine why that might be. You may even consider scheduling additional training on hand injury prevention for some or all of your workers.听

However, you may also need to set priorities based on what your supervisor requires, what your employees are asking for, and any regulatory deadlines that may apply.听

For instance, annual reporting on your OSHA 300 log isn鈥檛 something you can just ignore. Refer back to the earlier section on tips and tricks for managing your day and meeting deadlines.听

How Automation Can Help Your Health and Safety Plan

A great way to establish an effective safety plan that can help you prioritize your tasks and manage your day is through automation.听

First, try to identify the repetitive and time consuming tasks that often take up a majority of your workday. Then, determine which of those could be replaced with automated systems.听

Automation can free up your time and allow you to focus on other important aspects of your job.听

One example of a time consuming task is contractor and new employee onboarding. It鈥檚 also very repetitive, as the only thing that really changes are the people you鈥檙e bringing in.听

Think of all the work that is normally involved in this process:

• Training contractors and new employees
• Showing them your site safety orientation video
• Collecting documents and qualification paperwork
• Periodically reviewing records to ensure compliance
• Periodically reviewing and assigning new training requirements

Wouldn鈥檛 it be nice if you could automate some of this work and not have to constantly be the one handling every step of the onboarding process?

With 皇家华人, you can use our online platform to automate the entire onboarding journey. Workers can self register, upload critical documents, and complete your site safety training. All from one place, before they even set foot on the job site.听

An automated onboarding process such as this enables workers to start up to three times faster, since they don鈥檛 have to waste time on their first few days going through training and paperwork.听

It also saves your company tens of thousands of man hours and dollars on every project. That鈥檚 because you no longer need to dedicate yourself or others to continuously onboard new workers. Instead, you can get back to those goals and priorities you鈥檝e set earlier!

Get your time back and manage your workers and subcontractors more efficiently with online registration, training, approvals, and compliance. Click here to today.听

The post Health and Safety Plan: Monthly Goals and Priorities appeared first on 皇家华人.

Training and compliance are critical aspects of any safety manager鈥檚 job. But it can be difficult to manage and prioritize these tasks.听

How do you find the right balance?听

There鈥檚 too much work going on to cover everything, and things might slip through the cracks. Obviously, that鈥檚 something you want to avoid if you can help it.听

Having systems and processes in place that can save you time will allow you to focus more on being present and proactive.听

For example, although training is important, do you really need to be spending the first few hours of your day training and onboarding new workers? Not necessarily.听

There are other ways to accomplish training without having to be stuck in a classroom and missing out on valuable time that could otherwise be spent in the field and interacting with workers.听

Let鈥檚 take a closer look at the training and compliance issues and how to overcome them. Later on, we鈥檒l discuss how time management comes into play and how you can take back your day and start focusing on other important aspects of your job.听

HSE Problem #1: Training Management

One of the training problems that HSE professionals are faced with is not having an efficient way of managing training requirements.听

With so many workers onsite, it can be difficult to manage the various requirements, which are different for every person depending on their job, department, and work location. Trying to manage everything with a paper file system is a losing battle.听

Even if you鈥檙e using a spreadsheet or scanning electronic copies, the process of managing worker training is still extremely time consuming. And there鈥檚 too much room for error.听

Training is important because it reduces the risk of workers having an accident or injury on the jobsite. It鈥檚 also necessary for compliance. So keep up on it. Don鈥檛 let the problems associated with managing a training program get in your way.听

The ideal solution for effectively managing your training requirements, is to use an online system that automatically delivers the training, maintains records, and alerts you when an employee is behind on their training.听

Another benefit of online training is that the training each employee receives is consistent. You can ensure nothing has been forgotten or rushed. Standardized training also avoids any confusion about the correct processes or procedures for completing the work.

皇家华人 offers a solution to HSE professionals who want to overcome the problems of inefficient training systems.听

Before workers step foot on a job site, they can train themselves online through the online portal. Once they complete their training and orientation, workers are shown on their 皇家华人 profile with a green check, signaling their qualification status.

Creating a training curriculum within 皇家华人 is easy. Simply upload your own videos and powerpoints. You can even create a quiz at the end of the training.听

Want to see it for yourself? See how HSE professionals use 皇家华人 to manage their online training:

HSE Problem #2: Compliance

Another one of the top HSE problems is staying on top of regulatory compliance. Of course, there are a number of problems that can arise when trying to maintain compliance. But one of the main things an inspection officer almost always looks through is your training records.

This should be one of the easiest compliance standards for you to meet. However, many HSE professionals struggle with recordkeeping. That鈥檚 because it is easy to fall behind when trying to manage paper files and maintain documents for so many contractors and employees. It鈥檚 often a very messy and disorganized process.听

The solution is to utilize an electronic system that stores all of your documents in an online, centralized location.听

With GoConctractor, you have the ability to maintain an accurate list of everyone on the jobsite, along with their training and qualification records.听

The best part is, the workers can upload this information themselves. You no longer need to track down employees, get copies of their records, or manually scan or upload them to your recordkeeping system.听

For example, if you require all workers on site to have an OSHA-30 certification, you can require them to upload a copy into 皇家华人 while they are completing their other online training and onboarding requirements.听

Click on the button below to see how 皇家华人 can help you maintain records and stay in compliance:

HSE Problem #3: Time Management

Just about all of the HSE problems you will face can be linked back to time management. With so many responsibilities and so many workers to manage, it can be difficult to balance your workday and spend time on what truly matters.听

So how can you better manage your time? What can you do to avoid being stuck behind a desk all day? It all comes back to setting up systems and processes that work for you.听

One of the major benefits of the 皇家华人 platform that our clients love is how much time they are able to save on tedious training and onboarding tasks.听

Our system allows you to eliminate paperwork, save time and money, and easily manage and monitor all aspects of your training and onboarding process.听

Subcontractors can self-register and upload information, critical documents, and complete your site safety training. You can automatically track the qualification status of all workers on site without having to manually sort through stacks of training records.听

皇家华人 can help give you back your day. You don鈥檛 have to waste time managing training or maintaining records for compliance. With an online management system in place, you can spend more time in the field focusing on what truly matters.听

The post 3 Problems HSE Pros Face and How to Solve Them appeared first on 皇家华人.

It鈥檚 important to be aware of current health and safety trends for the construction industry. But there鈥檚 a lot of information out there. Finding reputable resources can be a challenge. How do you know who鈥檚 trustworthy? Where can you get the most up-to-date information?

This guide for construction health and safety resources will provide you with the insight on what you need to know as a safety manager and where you can get reliable information.听

Having access to reputable resources will help you confidently make better decisions for your employees and your company. It can also be beneficial from a professional development standpoint.

So where do you start?听

Let鈥檚 break it down into a few different areas of construction health and safety:

• Industry News
• New Technology
• Job Opportunities
• Rules and Regulations

Construction Health and Safety News

If you want to read the latest in construction news, there are several online publications that you can follow. For instance, is a well-respected news provider in the safety industry. One of its focus areas is in construction.听

According to the website, the EHS Construction news section offers 鈥渢he latest construction safety news and best practices, with coverage including OSHA construction regulations and compliance, health and safety for construction workers, fall protection, construction personal protective equipment and more.鈥�

Another popular news source for construction health and safety professionals is . This publication covers a wide variety of topics relevant to the construction industry. You鈥檒l also find training videos, white papers, and information on safety products on this website.听

And finally, perhaps the most specific to the construction industry in general, is Rather than being limited to information specifically related to safety, this news source provides helpful insights on the current construction industry trends across a variety of topics.听

Why is it important to read construction news?听

Staying current on the latest trends and stories can help you understand some of the issues that other construction companies are dealing with. You might gain some valuable insights and develop a fresh perspective on something that could help your employees.听

The news is just one source of construction health and safety resources. Next, let鈥檚 identify where you can go to find reputable information about safety technology.听

Construction Health and Safety Technology

Investing in construction technology is a big step. Be sure to do your research before purchasing an advanced new product or service. You can use the same news resources from above and search for articles that cover construction technology.

Some examples of the latest advancements include drones, virtual reality, and wearable devices.听

Drones can be used to conduct site surveys, inspections, hazard analysis, and can also be used to monitor workers throughout the day to ensure compliance and productivity goals are being met.

Virtual reality simulators are being used on construction sites to train employees and equipment operators. Some can even set up false environments, such as confined spaces or working from heights.

Wearable technology can be beneficial on construction sites for a number of different reasons. For example, they can be used to track and monitor the location of lone workers. Other wearable devices can monitor a worker鈥檚 posture, track movements, and even send alerts if they are suffering from fatigue or may be intoxicated or under the influence.听

Of course, if you鈥檙e interested in implementing a new safety technology at your construction company, you鈥檒l also want to read product reviews, case studies, white papers, and any other resources about that particular product.听

If possible, you should also take advantage of free trial offers. This gives you and your employees an opportunity to 鈥渢est out鈥� the technology and see how it works within your company. Be sure to seek feedback from anyone who uses the product during the free trial.

Construction Health and Safety Job Opportunities

When looking for job opportunities, you might want to use a specialized search engine such as , which only posts openings in the health and safety industry. is another job search tool, and this one if specific to careers in construction.听

Of course, it鈥檚 always helpful to tap your network and see if anyone you know (personally or professionally) is looking to add a safety professional to their team.

You may also want to consider joining a professional membership, such as (formerly ASSE), which is the American Society of Safety Professionals.听

According to the ASSP website, the organization 鈥減rovides education, advocacy, standards development and a professional community to our members in order to advance their careers and the OSH profession as a whole.鈥�

A professional membership is one of the most valuable construction health and safety resources you will find.听

The final resource we will review in this guide is on rules and regulations, and where you can go if you have questions about EHS compliance.听

Construction Health and Safety Regulations听

In general, if you have questions about compliance, it鈥檚 best to seek answers from your local office.听

Whether you are covered by a state plan or the federal regulations, it鈥檚 a good idea to start building positive relationships with the agency. You can seek answers from the department鈥檚 Education or Resource office.听

Some safety professionals are hesitant to reach out to their OSHA office, out of fear that an inspector will show up at the jobsite and start issuing citations. But in reality, the compliance office and the educational resource office are two separate entities within OSHA.听

Other reliable sources for health and safety regulations include the National Safety Council and Safeopedia.听

The , or NSC, is 鈥淎merica鈥檚 leading nonprofit safety advocate. As a mission-based organization, we focus on eliminating the leading causes of preventable death so people can live their fullest lives. We focus our efforts where we can make the greatest impact: workplace, roadway and impairment.鈥�

is an online resource that has articles and guides on just about every health and safety topic out there. The website is designed to 鈥減rovide easy access to occupational health and safety information.鈥�

The post Where to Find Construction Health and Safety Resources appeared first on 皇家华人.

Ineffective contractor management can lead to a number of headaches — both for the employees within your company and for the contractors. Poorly managing subcontractors can also cost you valuable time and money.听

That鈥檚 why we鈥檝e decided to share these five tips to help you effectively manage subcontractor workers at on the job site. Follow the advice outlined below and you鈥檒l be well on your way to creating a seamless process for managing these workers.

• Create a Unified Experience for All Workers

The first tip for managing subcontract workers is to create a unified onboarding experience and standardized orientation for all new workers. This will reduce the amount of time and effort required on your part, and will provide clarity for the contractors.听

One way to create a unified experience is by uploading custom training to your onboarding platform.听

When all workers receive the same consistent training, there will be fewer discrepancies and misunderstandings about company policies, legislation requirements, and the roles and responsibilities of each individual employee.

Knowing where they stand and what is asked of them is important for all subcontractors at the start of their employment.

• Automate the Contractor Onboarding Journey

Another way to effectively manage subcontract workers is to digitally invite them to register themselves and provide all necessary documents upfront before arriving on site for an upcoming project.听

Workers can onboard up to three times faster when they have the option of completing their training and submitting their paperwork ahead of time.听

Onboarding workers with 皇家华人 is easy. Simply send them an invitation to your platform and wait for them to do the rest.听

Of course, you鈥檒l want to be clear about which trainings and orientations they are required to complete, which documents need to be uploaded, and any other specific requirements you may have.听

Once that has been established and communicated, your automated contractor onboarding experience can just about run itself.听

• Create a List of All Workers On the Jobsite

You cannot effectively manage subcontract workers without knowing who is onsite at all times. That includes knowing which companies, how many employees, and the exact roles and responsibilities of each of those workers (along with their qualifications).

Having a current list of all workers on the jobsite helps you calculate costs, increase jobsite security, and better prepare for emergencies.听

皇家华人 reports gives you a full view of who is working on the construction site. Even better, when managers utilize 皇家华人’s check-in/check-out QR codes, they can quickly verify a worker鈥檚 status and credentials from a mobile device by simply scanning the workers code.

• Store Your Training and Documentation Online

Having a central, accessible place for all worker documents is essential. Storing them online means that you can access them from just about anywhere. This is especially helpful for managers who are in the field or on the go.听

You can update training requirements, generate reports, and check worker qualifications at any given time. No need to make a special call to the office or make a mental note to do these things when you get back to the office.听

In terms of training, workers can also complete them in the field as things come up.听

For instance, if you鈥檙e doing an inspection and realize a subcontractor isn鈥檛 aware of your policies on chemical safety, you can direct them to your online training instead of pulling them from the job and scheduling a date and time to complete the training in-person.听

• Integrate With Other Construction Technology

皇家华人 integrates with , such as worksite management, access control, project management applications, and even wearable technology.听

The benefit of integrating these systems is that you鈥檙e able to manage subcontract workers safely and effectively, and will be able to make better decisions down the line.听

The post 5 Tips to Effectively Manage Subcontract Workers appeared first on 皇家华人.

Construction companies all over the world are starting to realize the benefits of contractor management software that focuses on automating or digitizing outdated processes within the industry. Through integrated technology, you can streamline your processes, reduce cost, and improve onsite operations and contractor relationships.听

Let鈥檚 take subcontractor orientations, for example. For many construction companies, this process requires a lot of administrative work, filing paperwork, scanning documents and not to mention time-consuming on-site safety training.听

What if the entire process of providing orientations to the job was more efficient? What if you could avoid the administrative workload by digitizing your subcontractor worker orientations?

Choosing the right construction tech can help you stay competitive and achieve your business goals.听

But how do you replace legacy systems or processes with a new software without being overwhelmed with the technology selection and purchasing process?

Why make the switch from legacy systems or a historic process to new software?

First and foremost, it鈥檚 important to realize that your current process of managing contractors may be inefficient and cost prohibitive.听

Think about the time and energy it requires to onboard contractors with in-person orientations, manual administration, and collection of worker documents. When your company鈥檚 safety professionals or management staff have to do these tasks over and over again, it takes away from other important tasks they could be doing elsewhere.听

You must recognize that any fears or apprehension you may have about adopting a new technology are only getting in the way of your own success.

The good news is, you don鈥檛 need to be tech-savvy to implement a contractor management system. And your contractors don鈥檛 need to be either in order to use it. In fact, making the switch from in-person orientation to online, for example, can make life a whole lot easier for everyone involved.

The Benefits of a Contractor Management System听

Utilizing technology for contractor management has several benefits.听

For instance, using subcontractor orientations as an example, workers can get started up to three times faster when utilizing a remote onboarding system. You no longer have to dedicate the first day (or week) to training contractors and reviewing documents when it can all be done before the workers ever step foot on site.

You鈥檒l also save a significant amount of time and money with every project. Companies who have implemented construction tech have reported savings of tens of thousands, in both man hours and dollars spent.

Another benefit is having one central, accessible place for all contractor documents that can be accessed from anywhere. You鈥檒l stay organized and be able to better manage your data. You鈥檒l even be notified if worker documents, qualifications, or training are about to expire… before it happens.听

Choosing the Right Technology for Your Business

Before choosing construction tech for your business, you need to understand your company鈥檚 needs, challenges, and goals.听

What system are you currently using, and how is it holding you back? What are the main problems you are hoping to solve?

You should also be sure to evaluate a software鈥檚 features, flexibility, and level of support.听

You want to choose something that is customizable, easy to implement, and easy to use. After all, the point of a contractor management system is to reduce the level of time and frustration it takes to onboard workers.

Whenever possible, you should try to schedule a demonstration of the product or sign up for a free trial. This allows you to familiarize yourself with the platform and see how it can be best utilized for your workplace.听

Reimagine Subcontractor Orientations

皇家华人 is the leading contractor management software that allows you to register, train, and manage your workers online. We help clients automate the subcontractor onboarding journey. Workers can register themselves, upload all required documents, and complete their safety training and orientation.

The 皇家华人 Difference:

• 皇家华人 creates a list of everyone on the job site, noting who is qualified to be there and who is not. Other platforms simply house a list of names and documents, but don鈥檛 offer any sort of notification for when training and qualifications expire.听
• 皇家华人 can store your information online. Instead of using a desktop application or single-server software systems, you can grant access to multiple team members and allow them to access the platform from anywhere. It even integrates with other pieces of technology, such as Procore and Access Control.听
• 皇家华人 is highly customizable. Your in-house trainings can be uploaded via powerpoint, video, and most other applications. You can even create custom quizzes to accompany your training.听

Choosing construction tech for your business doesn鈥檛 have to be overwhelming. The benefits of contractor management software systems are clear.听

Managers can worry less about the ongoing tasks associated with onboarding contractors, and can focus on other aspects of the business. Contractors can get to work sooner. And your company will notice a significant savings in the cost of onboarding new clients.

Rest assured that 皇家华人 is an easy-to-use technology that was created specifically for the construction industry. Your team and incoming contract workers will be able to seamlessly adapt to this leading contractor management system.听

Thinking about implementing a contractor management system for your workplace? to schedule a demo with a 皇家华人 representative. See for yourself how our technology can help you improve safety and compliance on your jobsite.

The post Rethink Your Subcontractor Orientations appeared first on 皇家华人.

2020 was a听very听notable year for 皇家华人.听

At the start of the pandemic, we partnered with the Construction Industry Federation () and helped over听+150,000 construction workers across Ireland return job sites safely. We announced exciting new integrations, including our听worker level data integration听with Procore Technologies, and were selected as one of the first five听NEXTCoalition Partner firms. But that’s not all, we also made some听helpful and powerful听changes to our product in the last quarter of 2020.

Like all winning software, 皇家华人 continually improves our product features to meet our customers’ needs, making their workday better.

We’re committed to listening to our customers and implementing changes that improve 皇家华人’s functionality and use on the job site. Let’s dive right in and discuss what product features are new in 皇家华人 what you can expect in 2021.听

What’s new in 皇家华人: Product Release Notes for Q4 2020

For Admins

皇家华人 Admins, those who ‘own’ and manage the use of 皇家华人 on their project, now have the capability to:听

• Admins can customize and choose email notifications.听Under “My Settings,” an admin can choose which emails they should and should not receive.
• Admins can receive an email when a user becomes ‘qualified.’听Admins can now receive an email when a worker or ‘user’ is qualified on 皇家华人.听
• Admins can filter for ‘check-in’ entries for a particular worker group.听This gives Admin’s a better view of their workforce and those on their project.
• Admins can customize听the text for projects in the field “choose what best suits you,”听just another way that Admins can customize 皇家华人 to work with their unique project!
• Admins can now see the contact details of a subcontract worker.
• Admins can easily see who approved or rejected the status of a requirement.听Hovering over the ‘Review Status’ of a requirement now shows the Admin’s name who approved/denied a worker’s requirement status.听

In reports

• The ‘User Data’ report now includes email, phone, upload/document expiry, course expiry, and a link to the worker’s profile.
• The qualification report now includes qualification expiry dates.听

Read: A Quick Guide to 皇家华人 Reports

What’s next

A new 皇家华人 feature, Analytics, is now live and piloting for select 皇家华人 customers. This feature provides data at a glance for both worker invitations and qualifications. Watch 皇家华人 Analytics in action here:

听

听

The post New 皇家华人 Product Features: Q4 2020 appeared first on 皇家华人.

General Contractors on all large and small projects are required to manage subcontractors and subcontract workers. Many projects and safety managers have turned to online tools and software to manage this process better.听

Easy-to-use tools like 皇家华人 help managers onboard, train, document, and manage their subcontract workforce. With 皇家华人, managers can digitally invite subcontractors and subcontract workers to register themselves and provide all necessary documents required for an upcoming project.听

Before workers step foot on a job site, they can prequalify and train themselves online through 皇家华人’s online portal. Workers accept a manager’s digital invitation and log in at

Once logged in, they are provided by the manager and instructed on how to upload any required documents or information listed by the manager.听

Once workers complete their orientation and upload all necessary materials, they are shown on the 皇家华人 system with a green check, signaling their qualified status to be on the worksite.听

Learn how to create an orientation in 皇家华人.

How to onboard subcontractors and their workers to 皇家华人

When a manager is getting started on 皇家华人, they will first need to set up their Worker Group, orientation, and qualifications. A Worker Group can be a project phase, risk level, or a specific area on site. Once a manager has created their Worker Group, they can invite all subcontractors to use 皇家华人 to access their site’s particular orientation or registration.听

Workers听only have access to their own profile and can complete courses, requirements, and qualifications for any听worker group听specified in their invitation.

Sending an Invite

From your admin portal, navigate to Users under Invitations on the left-hand side:

Click the blue + Invite button:

You will then be asked to choose an invitation profile, an outline of what these invitation types mean can be found . In this case, you will select Worker.听

Select Worker and click next. You can then enter the email addresses for the people you would like to invite:

Click Send to send your invitations. These invitations will now be visible in your user’s list under Invitations as “pending”, and will change to Accepted when the user logs in:

听

听

听

The post How to Onboard your Subcontract Workers With 皇家华人 appeared first on 皇家华人.