Indicators with Biggest Impact on Workplace Safety
April 6, 2018
Construction workers face some of the most dangerous workplace hazards of any industry. From slip and fall accidents and electrocutions to scaffolding accidents and getting hit by falling debris, construction related injuries can be quite severe and fatal. However, construction sites can be much safer if the appropriate safety protocols are followed. In fact, according to a report by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), companies that follow the Safety Training Evaluation Process (STEP) can make their work environments up to 670 percent safer than the current industry average.
The ABC reported that the following six indicators can dramatically improve workplace safety:
- Substance Abuse Programs: Approximately one third of all construction site accidents are related to drugs or alcohol. Companies that implement a substance abuse program, including drug and alcohol testing, are over 60 percent safer than those that do not have such programs in place. If used properly, substance abuse testing can help prevent drug or alcohol-related incidents.
- New Hire Safety Orientation: All new employees should go through a thorough orientation of the safety programs in place, as well as the company’s culture when it comes to safety. Companies that conduct comprehensive safety orientations for all new hires have 50 percent lower incident rates than companies that only provide a basic overview of health and safety topics. Safety orientations should cover the following topics:
– Expectations and responsibilities
– Safety rules specific to the job and/or equipment
– Reporting an emergency
– Protective gear and safety skills demonstration
– Assignment of a safety mentor
– Performance evaluations - Site-Specific Safety Orientation: This should include the following factors:
– Policies and procedures
– Hazards and operations
– Company’s vision and core values
– Importance of stopwork authority and peer observations - Toolbox Talks: Conduct 30-minute training sessions on a topic. The more safety topics that are covered, the less likely it is that a workplace accident will occur. In fact, companies that conduct daily toolbox sessions reduce their Total Recordable Incident Rate by over 60 percent compared to those that conduct weekly toolbox sessions.
- Near Miss/Near Hit Analysis: The site supervisor must promptly investigate all near miss accidents and take proactive steps to correct the situation. It is important that supervisors share lessons learned so that future accidents may be prevented.
- Site Safety Committee: General contractors or construction managers should conduct regular meetings that include site employees, subcontractors, vendors/suppliers, and the client. Companies that regularly coordinate these meetings on a weekly basis had up to 25 percent fewer injuries on-the-job.
Baltimore Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Advocate for Victims Injured in Construction Accidents
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured while working at a construction site, do not hesitate to contact the Baltimore Workers’ Compensation lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton. You are entitled to full Workers’ Compensation benefits if you were injured on the job and we will ensure that you receive the maximum financial compensation you deserve, as you may also be able to pursue a third-party liability claim. Our dedicated legal team will guide you through the claims process and protect your rights every step of the way. To set up a free, confidential consultation, call us today at 844-556-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
