A new report from Dodge Data & Analytics shows that construction contractors are becoming more focused on job site safety and that they are looking to their supervisors and job site workers to promote safety. Residents of New Jersey should know that contractors singled out four factors as being essential to a safety program; all four relate to supervisors or job site workers.
First, 84% of contractors believe job site workers must be involved in the program. Eighty-three percent believe that supervisors should have strong leadership skills for the program to work. Eighty-two percent say the two groups should hold regular safety meetings. Lastly, 77% assert that both groups should have continual access to safety training.
As for who provides the training, 73% of contractors in the study use their supervisors while others opt for in-house trainers. Over 80% of contractors have the supervisors themselves trained via the OSHA 30-hour training program, but it was not designed for this purpose. Instead, OSHA offers the Foundations for Safety Leadership training program.
Most contractors in the study create site-specific safety plans and training programs although fewer small contractors do this. About 66% of contractors encourage employees to report safety hazards, yet only 50% ask for employees’ input on safety conditions, and 39% bring employees into the safety planning phase.
Training and safety plans are essential to preventing injuries, but they cannot prevent all of them. Those who suffer a construction site injury can be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, which cover wage replacement and medical expenses. In this state, one can even seek a settlement before achieving maximum medical improvement. To find out what might be best in their situation, victims may see a lawyer for an assessment. A lawyer may assist with filing and with any appeals.
