Make workplace safety your `core` company value

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Make workplace safety your “core” company value

LEAH ALTIZER

CONSTRUCTION SAFETY NETWORK

Where does safety fit into your company? Health and safety issues are usually viewed as the job of the “safety guy” or just some extra tasks that have to be done to keep local safety officials happy.

However, this view is changing. More often, construction employers are realizing that safety must be incorporated directly into all aspects of the company. It is not a separate or add-on activity, but a core business value on par with production and quality control.

Safety Equals Skill

Safety practices are part of the construction craft itself, just as the careful taping of a drywaller results in a flawless wall, or the precise control of an equipment operator makes for perfect manoeuvering.

This means it is not possible to have a skilled craftsperson who is thoughtless about safety. Safety and skill cannot be separated.

Safety Means Security

Every incident, even if there is no serious injury or damage, costs the company money because it interrupts the smooth flow of business. The more serious the incident, the more it costs in terms of labour time lost, production delays and insurance premiums.

Therefore, the better the safety record, the healthier the company can be. This translates into more work and better security for all.

Do It Yourself

Whether you are an owner, a supervisor, a worker or a member of the company, you have the ability to shape attitudes about safety on the jobsite and the safety behaviors of others. Imagine a father who repeatedly shouts at his children to say please and thank you but never uses those phrases himself. How effective would his message be? Similarly, when it comes to safety, consistency between what you say and the example you provide is very important.

If you talk about safety, but take short-cuts around safety requirements, those around you may become confused and frustrated.

The Bottom Line

Safety fits in everywhere, and is integral to the success of any operation.

When every member of the company is diligent about safety and it is incorporated it into every aspect of their lives, on and off the job, then everyone benefits.