Frequently Asked Questions: Pull Planning Workshops in Ireland
The most important construction site safety rules address OSHA’s Fatal Four: always wear correct PPE (Rule 1), implement fall protection at every height (Rule 2), never work under suspended loads (Rule 6), and follow all electrical safety protocols (Rule 5). Beyond these, running daily toolbox talks (Rule 3) and reporting every near-miss (Rule 15) are the cultural practices that make all other rules stick.
Standard construction site PPE includes a hard hat, high-visibility vest, steel-toed safety boots, safety glasses, work gloves, and hearing protection in noisy zones. Task-specific PPE — such as respiratory protection for silica dust, a full-body harness for working at height, or chemical-resistant gloves for hazardous substances — must be added based on the risk assessment for each task.
OSHA’s Fatal Four are the four leading causes of construction fatalities: falls (approximately 38% of deaths), struck-by-object incidents (11%), electrocution (9%), and caught-in/between incidents (6%). Together, these four hazard types account for over 60% of all construction worker deaths in the US each year. Eliminating the Fatal Four is the first priority of any construction safety programme.
Lean Construction improves safety by eliminating the disorganisation, rushing, and poor communication that cause most site accidents. The Last Planner System® creates predictable, well-sequenced workflows that reduce emergency decisions. 5S creates clean, visual workplaces where hazards are immediately obvious. Lean’s near-miss and Kaizen culture embeds continuous improvement into daily site operations. In short, Lean doesn’t just make sites more productive — it makes them significantly safer.
OSHA requires safety training before workers begin new tasks and whenever new hazards are introduced. Best practice goes further: daily toolbox talks (5–15 minutes each morning), weekly safety walkthroughs by the site manager, and formal refresher training at least quarterly. At Lean Touch Solutions, we integrate safety training with our Lean Transformation programmes so that behavioural safety becomes embedded in the team’s culture, not treated as a separate compliance exercise.