The Risks of Getting Distracted

Getting distracted on the job can cause injuries and even death. One of the greatest sources of on-the-job distraction is employees' use of cellphones. Some employers may ban smart phones altogether, but others recommend that workers keep theirs on their person for emergency use. It's a challenge to have a cell phone and not use it for personal reasons, but refraining from personal use can save lives.

Scaffold work requires being attentive to many things at once, such as the scaffold structure itself, coworkers, the work at hand, the use of personal protective equipment or fall arrest system, weather conditions, loading and unloading of job materials, and any personal thoughts or feelings that might divert an employee's attention. Construction work is dangerous: add texting, talking on the phone, tweeting, or posting photos online and the results can be catastrophic. Don't get distracted.

To learn more about Scaffolding Safety visit our Construction Scaffolding Safety Online Training web page.