Construction Safety: Six Initiatives that Companies Should Not Ignore

When it comes to safety on the job site, construction company owners, managers, and employees must focus on safety to protect themselves, other employees, and potentially passersby from harm. When companies fail to focus on safety, severe injury accidents or fatal incidents can and do occur. While equipment and protective gear can help, actual safety starts with the company’s culture 

Six vital initiatives that construction company managers should not ignore are:

  • Make Safety a Primary Priority — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) notes that possible hazards for workers in the construction industry include falls from heights, trench collapses, scaffold collapses, electric shock, failure to use personal protective equipment, and repetitive motion injuries. Employers need to make sure scaffolding is erected properly, fall protection is in place, protective systems are in place for trenches, and all workers are equipped with necessary personal protective equipment.
  • Invest in Training — When you want your workers to operate in the safest possible manner, it will be in your best interest to provide the training necessary for them to learn exactly how things should be done. You should treat training as an ongoing aspect of employment that applies to all employees for the safety of everyone, and the training can help reinforce certain safety aspects that are important to an employer.
  • Involve Your Employees — Instead of making safety concerns a top-down mandate, try to get some of your employees involved in your efforts. Employees who have active roles in safety programs will be more likely to get their co-workers to appreciate their efforts. Involving employees on safety plans can also help avoid any possible conflicting instructions or other issues that can make some plans difficult to carry out. You also want to seek input from your employees as to what other areas of safety should be addressed.
  • Enforce Accountability — When you enact specific safety measures, you will want to make sure they are followed, and you should not hesitate to discipline employees who commit unsafe practices. By demonstrating that there can be consequences to unsafe actions, the employees will know that following safety rules are important to you. You will also want to allow employees to report unsafe practices to you and feel as though you are committed to their protection.
  • Reward Employees — You should reward employees who adhere to safety standards and also show a willingness to attend safety meetings, wear personal protective equipment, and offer suggestions to improve safety. You should avoid incentive programs that reward workers for going a certain number of days without accidents or injuries because such programs risk possible underreporting of injuries.
  • Begin Daily Inspections and Safety Meetings — Inspect your job site before and after every workday to identify possible safety concerns and then discuss all issues at daily safety meetings. When you begin to make this a routine, you will be able to correct many issues very quickly.

If proper safety training is not conducted, or if rules and protocols are not followed, catastrophic or fatal injuries can occur. Construction companies that fail to consider safety initiatives like those listed above do so at their own risk, and they could be held liable if the worst happens and someone is injured or killed.

Contact a New York Construction Injury Lawyer

If you suffered serious injuries or your loved one was killed in a construction accident in the greater New York City area, you will want to make sure that you quickly get yourself an experienced personal injury attorney. You will want to be sure that you speak to Hach & Rose, LLP for the qualified legal assistance that you deserve.  

Our firm has a record of success that includes more than $300 million in verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients. We have extensive experience helping injured workers in New York, and our team will be ready to stand up and fight for you. Call (212) 779-0057 or (866) LAWS-USA, or contact us online to take advantage of a free consultation right away. 

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