Establishing an Effective Safety Management Program for Contractors
February 27, 2020
Over the next decade, contractors are expected to make up approximately half of the workforce. It can be challenging to manage workplace safety, since every contractor has varying degrees of experience and knowledge about occupational health and safety. According to reports from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), too many organizations do not adequately address critical safety hazards in the workplace. In response, over 75 percent of the companies that participated in a National Association for Environmental Management (NAEM) safety management benchmarking discussion plan to take immediate steps to improve their contractor safety programs.
An effective safety program should achieve several objectives, including preventing worker injuries, protecting the reputation of the corporation, supporting compliance with government regulations, and avoiding steep fines related to violations. According to one NAEM participant, companies have a responsibility to ensure that their contractors have a safe work environment. A strong safety program also increases productivity.
Best Practices for Mastering Contractor Safety Management
- Establish clear safety expectations through induction training. Also called onboarding, induction training ensures that workers receive training for certain job duties before they come to work. The contractor will have a thorough understanding of how to safely operate machinery and how to prevent hazards associated with the job.
- Safety requirements should be incorporated into contracts. Contracts provide clear expectations regarding contractors’ performance and attention to safety. The language should require that contractors comply with federal, state, and local requirements, as well as any health and safety requirements that are specific to the company. Some companies link their contractor safety requirements to their accounts payable process to motivate contractor compliance.
- Keep track of key performance indicators. These are very effective at advancing contractor safety because they raise awareness of safety issues and motivate workers to improve their performance.
- Use audits and on-site inspections to monitor safety performance. Job-site walk-throughs and annual audits are a great way to track contractor safety performance. Advanced contractor safety programs integrate safety performances into their evaluations that are conducted when the project is complete.
- Use technology and third-party vendor support. This can make the process of obtaining and managing health and safety metrics more efficient. For example, this can help streamline the pre-qualification process by ensuring that a contractor company hires only people who meet their safety expectations. This technology can also identify workers who may need additional safety training.
Baltimore Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Represent Injured Contractors
If you were injured on the job, contact the Baltimore Workers’ Compensation lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton. We will determine whether your injury was a result of an unsafe work environment and ensure that you receive the maximum financial benefits you deserve for your injuries. Our dedicated team will work closely with you to address all your questions and concerns. We will not stop fighting for you until we have your complete satisfaction. To schedule a free consultation, call us today at 844-556-4LAW (4529) or contact us online. Located in Baltimore, we serve clients throughout Maryland.
