Results from a new study, Safety Management in the Construction Industry 2023 SmartMarket Report, indicate that although construction contractors continue to make progress responding to worker safety and health issues, many areas still can improve, according to Dodge Construction Network.
Conducted by Dodge Construction Network and CPWR—The Center for Construction Research and Training, the study examines the construction industry’s occupational safety and health challenges and highlights areas where more effort is needed.
Regarding heat, 52% of contractors in the study reported making changes at their company during the past three years to prevent heat-related illnesses onsite, and 66% of contractors implemented a heat-safety policy at their company. Although the data show progress, only 21% of employers with less than 20 employees made changes to address heat during the past three years, and another 21% of small contractors do not consider heat stress an issue.
The study revealed a high level of interest regarding workers’ well-being. Fifty-two percent of contractors wanted more resources for managing mental health, suicide and opioid use. Additionally, 80% of large contractors (100 or more employees) offer programs for substance use or mental health, and only 29% of small companies (fewer than 20 employees) offer these programs.
The study also examined the use and advantages of other good safety practices on job sites, including during preconstruction and pre-task planning. Ninety-four percent of contractors who engaged in seven or more of these activities reported an increase in worker engagement with safety measures; 84% reported a reduction in recordable injury rates; and 60% saw an improvement in productivity.
The study addressed the effective implementation of safety practices among firms of different sizes and ways to improve. It highlighted safety measures that smaller firms could use that larger firms already have adopted, such as getting workers more engaged in pre-task planning and using free online tools to promote worker well-being.
“Many small companies don’t have dedicated safety managers like you would see at a larger company, so data like this is particularly valuable to help provide education about how the industry is improving worker safety, health and well-being,” said Donna Laquidara-Carr, industry insights research director at Dodge Construction Network.
NRCA can help you set up a safety program. For more information, contact Rich Trewyn, NRCA’s director of risk education and training, at (847) 493-7575 or rtrewyn@nrca.net.
