Some construction firms may view safety programs as just another cost center, something to cut back on during tough economic times.
This belief is mistaken for two reasons. First, by helping to lower workers' compensation and uninsured costs and by helping to attract good employees, effective safety programs can increase profits.
Second, safety efforts do not have to be expensive. With a few management adjustments, contractors can make job sites safer without large expenditures.
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Why workers may not use protective equipment
- He might not know how to use it correctly.
- He might believe that the equipment doesn't work correctly.
- He might see co-workers disregarding safety rules without consequences.
- He might be rewarded for not using it; for example, supervisors may praise workers for finishing tasks quickly even when safety rules are ignored.
- He might be punished for using it; for example, following safety rules might slow him so much that he has to work through breaks to finish on time.
Some of these reasons relate to supervisors' attitudes; if supervisors give workers incentives to obey safety rules, the workers are more likely to follow them.
However, some issues can be corrected with direct employee input. A worker may report that a safety harness, while effective at preventing falls, makes it difficult to move materials around a roof.
In collaboration, the worker and supervisor may be able to think of workarounds. Because the worker helped develop the solution, he is more likely to adopt it and may encourage co-workers to do the same.
Involving employees: practical steps
Perhaps the most effective low-cost way to improve safety is to involve the people who could get hurt. If managers are not tapping the intelligence and creativity of their employees when solving work problems, they are wasting valuable resources.
If a supervisor simply orders a change, a worker may comply but with only superficial commitment. Conversely, asking for and using an employee's suggestions increases the chance of enthusiastic adoption.
One very effective step is to create a safety committee made up only of non-supervisory employees. The committee should meet regularly to review injury reports and near-miss incidents, identify causes, and recommend corrective measures.
Members should base recommendations on their personal job-site experience. Managers should review all recommendations to see how they fit within procedures and be prepared to change procedures when necessary.
During daily assignment meetings, supervisors should ask workers whether they have identified safety issues that need attention and should review safe procedures for the tasks at hand. For this to work, workers must feel free to speak up and managers must acknowledge their opinions.
Although managers should take workers' safety recommendations seriously, workers should also keep the company's bottom line in mind. Unreasonably expensive tools or changes can harm credibility without improving conditions.
When workers make thoughtful, cost-conscious suggestions, managers have an obligation to consider them; failing to do so undermines trust and defeats collaboration.
By working together and communicating well, both workers and managers can achieve the ultimate goal: a profitable company where everyone can work in safe conditions.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How can a small contractor improve job-site safety without large costs?
Involve employees in identifying hazards, create a worker-only safety committee, and prioritize low-cost procedural changes first.
What is a safety committee and who should be on it?
A safety committee reviews incidents and recommends fixes; it works well when composed of non-supervisory employees who bring hands-on experience.
How should supervisors encourage use of protective equipment?
Supervisors should train workers on proper use, remove barriers to compliance, and reward safe work practices rather than only speed.
What if a safety solution seems too expensive?
Discuss cost-effective alternatives with workers; practical, affordable solutions increase buy-in and are more sustainable.