Focus

Think about the last time you've been on a job site right after a crew returns from lunch. How quickly do they get back to work? Does the afternoon throw them into a bit of a slump?

According to a recent study released by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), construction workers are at an increased risk of dying immediately after they return from lunch.

To make matters worse, the risk of death following lunch is more likely to occur among companies with fewer than 10 workers. According to the study, these smaller companies employ 25 percent of the total construction industry workforce yet suffer 47 percent of the fatalities, possibly because of their lack of full-time safety directors.

The study, which took place between 2010-12, found most construction worker fatalities occurred between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. with the peak death rate around noon. As BNA Bloomberg notes, construction workers generally begin their shifts early in the morning, which means noon typically is the time they are returning to work following lunch.

Kevin Cannon, AGC's senior director of safety and health services, told BNA Bloomberg contractors should consider conducting toolbox talks immediately after lunch, as well as incorporating some stretching, to refocus workers on safety and reawaken their muscles.

Safety issues will continue to plague even the most diligent of contractors, but making small adjustments can result in a large benefit. May 8-12 marks the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's National Safety Stand-Down week to prevent falls in construction. The week provides an opportunity to raise awareness of fall hazards and have a conversation with your employees about all the hazards they face, as well as protective equipment and methods to use and your company's safety policies and goals. It also can be an opportunity for employees to talk to management about hazards they see on job sites.

As part of the event, NRCA will hold a live Facebook chat Wednesday, May 10, from noon to 12:30 p.m. CST to address questions about roof and construction safety. Go to NRCA's Facebook page to learn more or contact Krista Berns, NRCA's director of online communications, at kberns@nrca.net or (800) 323-9545, ext. 7531.

Ambika Puniani Bailey is editor of Professional Roofing and NRCA's vice president of communications and production.