Classroom Activity: Let’s Talk Safety

As simple as it sounds, safety is a matter of communicating with one another. In many cases, both at school and in the real world, if we speak out and let someone know when we see someone doing something wrong, we’re labeled a tattletale. As a class,  discuss how a...

Rewards to Being Injury Free – Why Safety Matters

By Matt Firestone We hear time and time again about companies who are given awards for their safety performance. The awards come from various sources, associations, insurance companies, owners and so on.  These awards should be shared with employees and celebrated....

Workplace Communication is Key

By Linda Potter There’s a time and a place for every type of communication at work – from texting to email and phone call to face to face. Linda Potter, Architectural Sales Representative at Watkins Concrete Block & Reimers Kaufman, has extensive experience...

Math for Real Life

By Benjamin Carey Today, I am part-owner of a custom design/build company, Build DCB, working with people who want to build their dream home. Our job starts by talking through a concept with our clients, then drawing and designing the plans, followed by estimating the...

Classroom Activity: Communication Skills Game

Materials and Preparation Two matching sets of LEGO building blocks with ten blocks and one base board in each set; using one set of blocks, build a random object using the ten blocks onto the base board Time 45 mins Group Size Minimum of four people, up to seven...

Communication Skills: Active Listening

Communication is everywhere and appears in many forms and formats. Verbal, nonverbal, written and images such as emojis and signage. Messages are conveyed face-to-face, on paper pages, over phone lines and on screens. All these forms of communication are how we give...

Ladder Safety Checklist

Here is a jobsite example: Ryan was applying sheetrock mud to a wall and was standing on the top rung of a 12-foot ladder. He lost his balance, fell to the concrete floor, and landed on his head. He suffered a major head injury. Ladders are involved in many accidents,...

Safety: Elevating Every Project

Every construction project requires the use of ladders or lifts. Because reaching elevated spots is necessary to the completion of a successful project, so are the rules for using ladders and lifts. Falls are one of the most common yet avoidable hazards in the...