The AM Huddle - Improving Jobsite Focus And Safety

Recently I was participating in a loss control meeting and learned of a simple but innovative methodology to improve job site safety, a benefit for both the workers and workers compensation insurers alike. Conceptually, it was similar to a simple business methodology I use in my own insurance agency team meetings to minimize interruptions and to allow everyone on the team to understand and focus on hot button items for the day ahead. The methodology revolves around team focus, in this case to rapidly focus attention on safety. The methodology is simply called the "AM Huddle".The concept of an "AM Huddle" at a job site is to focus the team's attention on key elements of the project that must be accomplished on that given day. The huddle can include: what factors are important, quick responsibilities overview, identification of all safety concerns and a formal safety reminder. The "AM Huddle" should be a fast, high impact meeting. The meeting format is only five minutes long, and should be managed by the foreman, site supervisor etc. You can have a small team and still benefit from this methodology, even a three person team can have an "AM Huddle." It also works well in a large scale project. For example, if you have 10 companies on the same job site, the huddle can be held with senior members of each company and then those senior team members can quickly arrange their own team specific huddle. The concept of focusing and drawing job site workers' attention to the day ahead can greatly enhance awareness, safety and help engage and involve all members of the team.Think of your favorite football team huddle. The quarterback calls a play, the team breaks from the huddle and then executes that play. The job site safety and awareness huddle is conceptually the same. The foreman calls the play for the work to be accomplished on that specific day, with a goal of no safety incidents and quality work. On any given day that is accomplished on a job site, it is a win for the job site workers, the managers and the workers compensation insurers too.