1. Recent safety inspections made by representatives of CCE and SD reveal that FD contractors are still being allowed to perform work while not complying with contractual safety requirements. Safety deficiencies noted included inadequate scaffolds, no guardrails on hign open work areas and scaffolds, inadequate means of access for workomen to high work platforms, unguarded floor openings and open excavations, failure to use safety belts and lifelines as required, poor housekeeping, inadequate lighting, etc. The majority of the violations are of the type that produce serious injury accidents. These reports are especially disappointing to me after having laid out a blueprint for gaining strict compliance with safety measures. 2. Such lack of compliance by contractors shows that our field personnel are continuing to be lax in fulfillment of their safety responsibilities. Apparently, too little attention has been paid to the contents of policy changes and directives issued to obtain strict safety compliance. 3. Every supervisor in the future must be cognizant of his responsibilities as relate to our safety program. Any employee who willfully neglects to accept this responsibility shall be subject to disciplinary action. 4. Top supervisors have had sufficient time to get their work in order safety-vise. In the future, I expect uniformity in compliance with accident prevention measures on all operations, both Government and contractor. Only strict compliance will be tolerated. The success of our over-all safety program depends on the full cooperation of every employee, and I am depending on each to rise to the challenge. J JACK W. FICKESSEN District Engineer 1. FROM Chief, Safety Office . DATE 14 July 1966 Mobile There are attached two color photo prints of a safety requirements enforcement sign which is being used on contract construction work throughout the district. The sign is lighter in color than shown as the prints came out a little dark. 2. These are Scotchlite (non-reflective) signs on sheet aluminum, 30 inches by 48 inches in dimension. Thirty-three of these signs were made for distribution to 11 different district construction projects. The cost of the signs was $16.50 each in this quantity. Prices will vary with number of signs, with lower unit cost for greater quantities. 3. Use of this sign was the result of a suggestion submitted by Mr. Abercrombie, Area Engineer, Redstone Arsenal. Any use of such a sign by other districts should be reported to this district in order that supplemental suggestion award could be made to Mr. Abercrombie. 4. Two copies of the color photo are attached in the event you would like to send one to OCE Safety Office for use in the Quarterly Safety Bulletin. Incl 88 Bester Heute LESTER H. WHITE CC: Mr. Abercrombie CMT 1 OPENING REMARKS BY CHIEF SAFETY Engineer, Bureau of RECLAMATION, BEFE AGC TRAINING CONFERENCE, MAY 1967 "I'm most appreciative to have this opportunity to meet with you and to diens safety in the construction industry. Reclamation is responsible for the adminis tion of a public works program involving an expenditure of 300 million dolas annually for development of water resources and hydropower for the West. W are proud of the fact that almost 100% of this construction is performed 5 private contractors on a competitive bid basis-Also that approximately 96 of the costs of the projects built by Reclamation are repaid to the Federi Government, most with interest. "As a result of this close relationship with the contractors and the associ tions representing them, we share many of the problems as well as the pai...” criticism and indictments which are often leveled against the industry A persistent criticism of the construction industry has been its poor aceler record. Year after year the industry suffers one of the highest injury rates, claiming an average of 2,600 lives and contributing to over 200,000 disabling injuries annually. "As contractor representatives, I know you must be concerned with this pr lem which plagues the industry and causes embarrassment. You are certing aware of the inroads made on profits by reason of the direct cost of workne's compensation insurance, the loss of equipment and material, unscheduled de lays, together with the loss of production and efficiency. With the full realization of the fact that the increased expense resulting from poor safety records is passed on to the owner in increased building costs, reflected in higher bidReclamation is concerned. Compounding this is the increasing number of tr claims being brought against the Government on the allegation that the Federa Agencies failed to provide a safe work environment and were negligent in the enforcement of safety standards. As a result, we're both being tarred with the same brush'—economically reputation-wise.” Comment BUILDING TRADES The persistent construction safety problem purports to cause: embarrassment, public criticism and indictment, inroads on profits. loss of equipment. production and efficiency which results in Federal Agencies and contractors both being "tarred with the same brush"-economically and reputation-wis. While this is all true, no mention is made of the more important factors: the loss of life, the injured, the families forced into reduced circumstances of even poverty, the effect on children raised in fatherless homes, etc. Perhaps this general attitude is why safety in the construction industry is as bad as it is today. |