Safety Planning in Construction: Six Tips from the Office to the Field

Construction safety requires comprehensive planning that begins in the office and extends seamlessly to the field. This collaborative approach ensures that everyone—from project engineers to laborers—contributes to creating and maintaining safe work environments. Our experienced team members from Richard’s Chicago headquarters share their insights on how safety planning works at every level.

Office-Based Safety Planning: Insights from Project Engineer Ana O.

1. Phasing Plans for Occupied Spaces

"Phasing planning is essential for protecting occupants in existing spaces," explains Ana. "We create comprehensive plans showing exactly which areas are under construction and which paths remain safe, including temporary partitions, alternative routes, and signage—all established before work begins."

 "During a recent 3rd floor renovation in an active end-of-life care facility, we faced a critical challenge: the original design was informed the adjacent ward would be empty, but it remained fully operational. Our solution? The field team and subcontractors quickly designed and constructed a temporary hallway, ensuring continuous access for patient care during the entire renovation. This kind of adaptive planning protects lives while maintaining project momentum."

2. Integrated Safety in Project Scheduling

According to Ana, safety is part of project planning from the start, “We incorporate safety milestones directly into our master schedules, including time for safety pre-planning meetings before each new phase or major activity," she notes. This integration ensures safety considerations influence timing and sequencing decisions.

3. Collaborative Risk Assessment

“Our team collaborates with our subcontractors on risk assessment for safety during our Preconstruction and Preparatory meetings.  As subcontractors mobilize in the field, we coordinate to ensure their project-specific plans reflect hazards and risks associated with the project,” Ana shares.  This allows everyone to be on the same page and identify risks before they happen.

Field Implementation: Insights from Project Engineer Vince R.

4. Start with Planning

"Planning is the most important thing we do in construction," Vince says. Before any work begins, the team takes time to map out the tasks, schedule, and potential risks. By anticipating problems, they can prevent accidents before they happen.

5. Talk About the Unexpected

When Vince's team arrives at a jobsite, they talk about what could go wrong. "We discuss all the bad things that could happen—even things we don't expect," he explains. Talking about potential hazards helps the team be ready for the unexpected.

6. Communication is Key

Clear communication keeps everyone informed. Whether it's a toolbox talk or a quick safety reminder, Vince believes that regular communication is essential for keeping the team safe. "Good communication helps prevent accidents," he says.

Bridging Office Planning and Field Execution

Safety in construction requires seamless coordination between office planning and field implementation. Ana's strategic planning in the office creates the foundation that Vince and his team build upon in the field. By establishing clear phasing plans, integrating safety into scheduling, conducting collaborative risk assessments, maintaining comprehensive jobsite planning, discussing potential hazards, and prioritizing clear communication, construction teams can ensure that safety remains the top priority from project conception to completion.