The ‘Speak Up!/Listen Up! for Construction’ training materials have been developed in collaboration with 16 contractors including Bechtel and Kiewit. They are designed to foster safe work environments by helping employees overcome the anxiety that can be associated with giving or receiving safety-related feedback.
The package includes videos, presentation materials, handouts and a facilitator's guide. All content has been tailored to reflect the specific challenges and risks inherent in a construction environment.
"Caterpillar has a long history of supporting our colleagues in the construction industry in the drive to continuously improve safety," said CEO Doug Oberhelman. "This project reflects our belief that at-risk behaviours on any job site can be minimised when people communicate openly about safety. We're pleased to have helped develop a practical tool that will engage, educate, empower and ultimately protect the men and women who buy and use our products."
Speak Up! is designed to help employees learn how to give safety-related feedback to co-workers. Listen Up! is the programme that demonstrates the internal challenges faced when receiving feedback and presents the way to overcome them.
David Watts, vice president and director of safety for Atkinson Construction, was instrumental in engaging Caterpillar in the project. The company had already used standard versions of the tool and Watts envisioned a construction-specific version and recruited key industry players to help customise it. "Construction-focused messaging makes the material even more compelling to employees in our industry," he said. "Customising the content was a way for the companies involved in the project to demonstrate our commitment to share world-class best safety practices."
Speak Up!/Listen Up! for Construction is available in English. General industry versions of Speak Up! and Listen Up! are available in 25 languages. More information at safety.cat.com.
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