Cell Phones & Distractions on the Jobsite
Phones are useful tools on the jobsite: photos of problems, plans, emergency calls. But a worker looking at a screen isn’t watching for backing trucks, swinging loads or the edge of a slab. Earbuds can block the warnings that save lives.
- All workers
- Equipment operators
Photo: worker stepping out of the traffic area to a safe spot before using a phone
When phone use is most dangerous
- Operating equipment, vehicles, forklifts or cranes
- Working at heights or near edges, holes and openings
- Using power tools
- Walking through areas with equipment and truck traffic
- Flagging or spotting
- Working near energized equipment or in a trench
Earbuds and headphones
Music or calls in your ears can drown out backup alarms, horns, shouts and the sounds of something going wrong. Many sites ban earbuds for this reason. Earbuds are also not hearing protection; loud music adds to your noise exposure. See Hearing Protection.
Sensible site rules
- Step out of the work area to a safe spot before using your phone.
- Stop the machine or put the tool down before looking at a screen.
- Keep phones in a pocket or holster, not in your hand, while moving.
- Use radios with clear protocols for work communication. See Backing & Spotters.
- Tether phones and tablets when working at height. See Tool Tethering.
Using phones for work, safely
- Photos of hazards and near misses are great for reporting; take them from a safe place.
- Check site rules before posting jobsite photos online.
- Safety apps and digital forms are useful, but don’t fill them out while walking through active areas.
Emergencies
Your phone is also how you’ll call 911. Keep it charged, know the site address, and know where you can get a signal. See Emergency Action Plans.
Standards & references
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