Reviewing the basics is never a bad idea, especially where construction safety is concerned. To mark the fourth-annual Safety Week 2017, which this year runs May 1 to May 5, we’re taking a look back at our archives to showcase some of the biggest safety-related stories from recent years.
Safety on the job site isn’t limited to preventing falls and protecting workers against toxins like silica dust. Supporting employees’ mental health; managing the risk of external threats like reckless drivers; and even keeping bystanders and job site visitors safe are all critical to a holistic approach to safety.
Is there a safety topic that your business is taking on that we haven’t addressed yet? Let us know.
How to develop a job-site safety plan
Milford, MA–based Consigli Construction posted images of employees and their family members on every project site to keep safety procedures — and rationale behind why they must be followed — at the forefront of workers’ minds. That’s just one way to help make safety the status quo. Read more.
5 steps to improve job-site fall protection
When it comes to OSHA violations on the job site, falls are the most common — and the most fatal. We asked safety consultants for their tips for protecting workers from the leading cause of death on construction sites. The most common piece of advice: communication. Read more.
OSHA’s top 10 construction violations
Fall protection may be the leading violation on the job site, but it’s not the only one. We checked in with OSHA to find out what violations occur most often on construction sites today. Read more.
How to keep owners and bystanders safe on the job
From an excited owner who drops by unannounced to an unknowing bystander in the way of falling debris, it’s more than just the crew who is at risk of injury on or near a construction site. We asked contractors and safety experts for strategies on how to keep those people safe, too. Read more here and here.
Tips for protecting your crew from external threats
From reckless drivers to terrorism to being caught in the crosshairs of a neighborhood dispute, a host of dangers unrelated to construction can threaten the safety of your team. Here’s what to watch for, and how to protect against it. Read more.
Making mental health a priority in construction safety plans
Industry efforts typically focus on the physical safety and health of workers. However, their mental condition is just as, if not more, important, in part because someone's emotional well-being can be harder to discern. Last year, a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that construction has the second-highest suicide rate and highest total number of suicides of all occupational groups. In response, we talked with safety and mental health experts about how construction employers can support their workers’ mental health alongside their physical well-being. Read more.
Skanska USA CEO talks safety in honor of Safety Week 2016
"In my view, the only thing that will slow growth [in safety awareness] down is our ability to train people," Skanska USA CEO Richard Cavallaro told Construction Dive last year. He explained how adopting a safety-first mindset at Skanska required a culture change that put more focus on internal accountability. Read more.
Test your safety knowledge
Think you’re up to speed on the latest safety-related rules and regulations and best practices? Take our safety quiz to find out.
Need more of a refresher? Read about how a heightened legal enforcement environment is pushing companies to take job-site safety more seriously, and how companies are incorporating technology into their safety programs.
