What Construction Company Owners Should Ensure Their Foremen Have

Every Foreman or Supervisor should have a binder with information that relates to their company.  I have provided a list of items that should be included in the binder.  I will be adding links where you will find additional information (through my future blogs) for each item included in the list, so keep checking back for these updates!

I strongly suggest that every Supervisor and Foreman also have a HARD COVER log book (Think Daily Work Diary) that they fill in daily WITH PEN.  I find it amazing the number of problems that magically disappear when people know that a log and Foreman/Supervisor information binder exist and are being used.  You will also find fewer extras being “forgotten” and fewer mistakes.  People that write logs at the end of each day also tend to be more organized.  So the 15 minutes that it takes at the end of the day is usually more than compensated for in being organized for the next day.

Contents of Foreman/Supervisor Binder to be kept with them at ALL times

1. Copy of the up-to-date company Health and Safety Policy
2. Copy of the Health and Safety Program
3. Company Form 1000 (Registration Of Constructors)
4. Blank Safety Talk Forms and copies of Safety Talks already given (See How to give a Safety Talk and Example Here)
5. Copy of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Construction Regulations (Green Book)
6. Sheets with photocopies of all the workers’ Records of Training (Fall Protection, Machine Licences etc)
7. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
8. Copy of the Scope of Work (Not the full contract but the scope of work should be easily accessible)
9. Map to the nearest Hospital  (If they work at multiple locations have one map for each location)
10. Contact information of all relevant parties
11. Copies of Work Procedures

This the is Foreman’s Binder and is NOT to be given away.  Each (good) supervisor will ask you for most of this information for his files.  Have your office send it out and do not allow your Foreman to let people borrow it.  The binder should stay with the Foreman to protect himself and his crew (and by doing this, the owner of the company).

Have I forgotten something? Let me know so I can add it to the list.