Safety Newsletter
One of the “root causes” of workplace incidents is the failure to identify, recognize, or anticipate hazards that are present. A critical element of an effective safety and health program is a proactive, ongoing process to identify and assess such hazards.
Hazards like poor housekeeping and tripping risks should be addressed immediately when discovered. Taking prompt action not only reinforces the importance of safety and health but also demonstrates strong safety leadership.
Employers and workers may already have access to valuable information about workplace hazards from both internal records and external resources.
As workstations evolve and processes change, equipment wears out, or housekeeping standards slip, and new hazards can emerge. Regular inspections can help identify these issues early, allowing them to be corrected before they lead to incidents.
Identifying workers’ exposure to health hazards is more complex than identifying physical safety hazards. For example, gases and vapors may be invisible, often have no odor, and may not be immediately noticeable.
Workplace incidents, including injuries, illnesses, close calls/near misses, and reports of other concerns, provide a clear indication of where hazards exist. By thoroughly investigating incidents and reports, you will identify hazards that are likely to cause future harm. The purpose of an investigation must always be to identify the root causes (and there are often more than one) of the incident or concern, in order to prevent future occurrences.
Emergencies and non-routine or infrequent tasks (including maintenance and startup/shutdown activities) present hazards that need to be recognized and understood. It’s essential to identify these risks and develop clear procedures to ensure a safe and effective response in both emergency and non-routine situations.
The final step is to assess and understand the hazards identified and the types of incidents that could result from worker exposure to those hazards. This means characterizing the nature of the hazards, identifying interim control measures, and prioritizing the hazards for control. By evaluating hazards and potential hazards we can take those lessons learned and apply them to future worksites to improve the overall safety of our workers.
“Risk” is the product of hazard and exposure. Thus, risk can be reduced by controlling or eliminating the hazard or by reducing workers’ exposure to hazards. An assessment of risk helps employers understand hazards in the context of their own workplace and prioritize hazards for permanent control.
This month we are recognizing the outstanding work of the Bruckner 3 crew as they have been awareded the July 2025 Crew of the Month! Led by Foreman Thiago Da Cruz, with project oversight from Project Manager Kasee Hofler and HP Inc.’s Health & Safety Officer Austin Howell, this team successfully completed a demanding contract scope that included the installation and removal of 70,000 sqft of Safe Span platform, abrasive blasting of 12,000 sqft of structural steel, application of fireproofing on 20,000 sqft, and concrete sealing of over 95,000 sqft.
All of this was achieved while navigating high-traffic urban conditions, severe winter cold, summer heat, and strict client deadlines. Their ability to stay focused, work safely, and deliver high-quality results with minimal incidents is a true reflection of Champion values and sets an example of what it means to be exceptional. Congratulations to the entire crew and thank you for your hard work in the field!
