Construction contractors in New Jersey may be interested in a report from Dodge Data & Analytics that shows just how others like themselves are going about improving job safety. First off, most contractors agreed that the most crucial factors in having a world-class safety program involve job site workers and supervisors.
Eighty-four percent believed in involving workers in the program. Other factors included supervisors with strong leadership abilities (83%), regular safety meetings for supervisors and workers (82%) and continual access to safety training for both (77%). These ranked above other concerns like having regular safety audits (67%) and holding safety meetings at the corporate level (62%).
It is important for contractors to keep their employees involved, considering the shortage of skilled workers that the construction industry is going through. Yet many are neglecting to do this in some ways. Only 39% of contractors in the report involve workers in safety planning, and half do not even ask workers for input on how job site safety can be improved. There are also some issues with supervisor training. Over 80% of contractors said they train supervisors through OSHA’s 30-hour training program, though this is not designed for supervisors. Instead, OSHA began offering the Foundations for Safety Leadership in 2017, but only 29% utilized it.
Whether through inadequate training or carelessness, accidents can arise on almost any job site. Those who are injured generally can file for workers’ compensation benefits, which can cover the cost of medical treatments and in some cases a portion of lost wages. Filing for the benefits, as well as mounting an appeal if the employer denies the claim, can be hard on one’s own, so victims may want to have legal representation.
