05/29/2026
In recognition of HETA Safety Awareness Day, our Safety Coordinator Alfredo Valentin shares the importance of preventing serious injuries and fatalities through effective risk assessment.
What is risk assessment?
Simply put, risk assessment is the process of identifying hazards, evaluating risks, and putting controls in place to prevent injuries.
Let’s break it down:
Identify the Hazard:
* Recognize what could cause harm (e.g., broken chop saw guards, noisy equipment, defective chains, straps, or cables).
* Determine Who Could Be Harmed:
Yourself, coworkers, contractors, or the public.
* Evaluate the Risk / Apply Controls:
Ask if current precautions are enough—or if more needs to be done to stay safe.
* Review the Assessment:
Recheck and update as conditions change.
In construction, risks are everywhere entering and exiting equipment, slips, trips, and falls, hoisting and rigging, and heavy equipment operations. That’s why it’s critical to stay alert and never become complacent. Just like in nature, where awareness can mean the difference between life and death, we must stay vigilant to protect ourselves and those around us. Every life is valuable. By taking the right safety measures, we ensure that every day at Burgess Civil is not only productive, but safe and healthy.
Be safe. Your actions make a difference.
