The Risk Management program at Concrete Structures is modeled after a Total Quality Management philosophy. The three essential phases of the program are outlined below.

Pre-planning and education

Providing clearly established and achievable expectations of safe work practice is the basis of all policies. Educating an employee to use these safe work practices before the job begins allows the employee to succeed. This is the first step in a behavior based safety program.

Direct observation of work practice and inspections

Inspections are not designed to catch an employee “doing something wrong”. Rather, they provide an opportunity to informally “coach” an employee to improve their ability to recognize hazards and develop solutions. The work practice observation and inspections allow the field employee to provide process modification suggestions that may simplify or improve the work practices.

Retrospective review of inspections, incidents, and claims

Areas of less than acceptable compliance or an incident history clearly demonstrate the need for additional attention, emphasis, or re-evaluation of the work practice.

Concrete Structures Risk Management Program has resulted in a ten year average EMR of 0.8, and is comprised of the following components:

A. Corporate Risk Management Policy and Procedure Manual.
The Policy and Procedures manual is reviewed and modified annually, as required to ensure compliance with changes in regulations and recognition of changes in technology. The manual specifically addresses activities performed by Concrete Structures that are regulated by the organizations listed below.

1. American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
2. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
3. Federal Air Regulations (FAR)
4. National Fire Protection Administration (NFPA)
5. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
6. Occupational Safety and Health Administration 29 CFR 1910 General Industry Regulations (OSHA 1910)
7. Occupational Safety and Health Administration 29CFR 1926 Construction Regulations (OSHA 1926)

 

B. Corporate Safety Education Program.

1. Annual safety education

a) Emergency Procedures
b) Fall Protection
c) Fire Prevention and Safety
d) First Aid
e) Hazard Communication Program

2. Continuing safety education for employees
3. Competent person training
4. Project specific training.

 

C. Employee Safety Procedure Handbook.
The handbook provides a synthesized and simplified presentation of safe work practices that is given to each field employee. Safety checklists are provided for the employee to use during routine tasks.

D. Project or Site Specific Plans.
A safety program designed to meet the hazards anticipated is developed for each project.

1. Project hazard analysis assessment

a) Safety of employees
b) Control interface points between the public and construction activity.
c) Review each phase of the construction process to evaluate the effectiveness of the site-specific plan.
d) Security concerns
e) Client operations and construction activity interface.

2. Site Specific Safety Planning

a) Asbestos Awareness
b) Confined Space
c) Emergency Procedures
d) Excavation Safety
e) Fall Protection
f) Fire Safety
g) Hazardous Materials
h) Ladders and Stairways
i) Personal Protective Equipment
j) Scaffolding
k) Silica Hazard Control and Testing
l) Weather Emergency

3. Specify Competent Personnel
4 . Review and modify as required during construction.

 

 

E. Annual Testing.

1. Silica exposure analysis.
2. Respirator fitness medical evaluation.
3. Respirator fit testing.
4. Audiograms.

 

 

F. Inspection.

1. Daily foreman’s site inspections.
2. Weekly risk manager’s site inspections.
3. Focused risk manager’s inspection of new or specialized tasks as needed.
4. Intermittent inspection by insurance company representatives.