Approximately 20 percent of fatalities on jobsites in 2016 occurred at construction work sites. The construction industry is widely considered one of the most dangerous industries in the country. Work injuries can affect a company’s safety record, reputation, insurance rates and ability to complete jobs in a timely manner. Many of these accidents are preventable with the proper systems in place. Some of the most effective practices and policies that you can put in place to ensure that your work site is injury free are discussed below.
Involve the Leaders of the Business
Studies show that the more directly involved the leaders of your business are in communicating their expectations regarding safety, the higher the probability that you will be able to reduce accidents. It is important that the CEO, owner, contractor or other head of the business directly communicates with other staff regarding safety. This will show employees that the business leadership does support a safe work environment and feels personally accountable for maintaining it.
When management has a clear policy in place toward maintaining a safe working environment, this eliminates many excuses that underlings may make about violating safety procedures. Additionally, when management is actively supporting safe work practices, employees feel empowered to be part of the safety process and to look for potential hazards that might harm them or their coworkers.
Establish a Safety Committee On Site
Establishing a safety committee on the job site can help you keep a team in place to identify and address any safety concerns. Choose members of your team who have an in-depth knowledge of the current and potential conditions that may arise at the jobsite. This valuable insight can help you identify potential safety hazards and correct them before anyone is injured. Work with your safety committee to develop comprehensive safety policies to implement at your jobsites.
This approach also motivates your employees to provide ideas and solutions that can help prevent injuries. Many workers may be hesitant to report safety issues to supervisors, but they may be more willing to report these concerns to a co-worker.
Have Safety Orientation for New Hires
Your orientation program can have a direct impact on the number of injuries you have, including how much time you devote to it and the type of safety education you provide. Companies that provided an in-depth orientation program that discussed safety practices and the safety culture had a 50 percent lower rate of accidents compared to those firms that provided only basis safety health and compliance topics, an ABC Safety Performance Report notes.
