How to keep safe on the job – Plumbers Job site Safety
Trouble Shooters turned 75 this year and we couldn’t have done it without being diligent about job site safety! We are one of the only small plumbing businesses in the Toronto area with a very clean health and safety record.
So how did we do it? Well, by remaining vigilant to training our team each and every year on new and current job site safety procedures. We are also a member of ContractorCheck; a yearly Health and Safety accreditation program for contractors all across Ontario. This certification shows we go above and beyond to ensure safety compliance for all of our customers.
Our yearly training is not cheap and thus we see more and more of our competitors struggling to keep up and failing to complete their training altogether. Stopping this training is not a wise decision based on how many dangers are present on the job site. It leads to loss time injury’s that are difficult for both the company and employee.
To help out our fellow plumbers we have compiled our top job site safety tips.
1) Always inspect your equipment
Trucks need service, equipment spontaneously breaks and power cords can wear out. ALWAYS inspect all your equipment before you use it. That includes the work vehicle you drive. You wouldn’t drive your personal car with the headlights out, and we would never want you to drive our truck that way. Monthly or even bi-weekly inspections on trucks and equipment help us catch these safety concerns before they cause a hazard.
2) When was the last time you reviewed WHMIS?
Our plumbers come into contact with all kinds of substances while doing work; that’s why we do a yearly WHMIS review with our team. Did you know liquid drain cleaners can cause skin burns? Customers put that down their drain all the time before we go to unclog the drain. That’s why it’s CRUCIAL to know how to deal with hazardous substances. All of our trucks are stocked with MSDS sheets of substances the team uses or could come into contact with. They help identify the risks and outline proper handling procedures.
3) Check yourself before you wreck yourself
Always ask yourself life-saving questions before you do work. Is it safe to be that high up on the ladder? Is that small space a confined space? Should you have a partner to help lift that heavy pipe? Injuries can happen when you don’t take the time to really think through if a situation or job site is safe. We always partner up, get scaffolding or figure out a safer way to complete a job rather than put any one of our team members at risk. Figuring out a safer way can sometimes mean sending our team for specialized training.
4) Are you stocked up for success?
The workday can be piled up with outstanding jobs, but if your truck isn’t stocked for success you are endangering yourself and the completion of jobs. Having the right size ladder (sometimes this means scaffolding!), first aid kit, commercial grade fire extinguisher, and health & safety booklet are a few essentials you need to always have. For us, these are on all trucks at all times. Then you need to make sure any common plumbing materials are also present. It wastes everyone’s time if you need to pop out to a supplier for an item you should have had on the truck. Stock up always.
