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Safety in construction relies on supervisors, worker involvement

On Behalf of | Feb 15, 2020 | Workers' Compensation |

The construction industry in Georgia, as elsewhere, is fraught with dangers, but these can be largely averted with strong safety programs. A report from Dodge Data & Analytics shows what contractors believe to be essential for the creation of such a program. Interestingly, the top four factors all involve supervisors and/or job site workers.

First, 84% believe in greater worker involvement. While 83% mentioned the importance of having supervisors with solid leadership skills, 82% brought up the need for regular safety meetings between both workers and supervisors. Fourth among factors, 77% said ongoing safety training is essential to construction safety. These were followed by factors like the need for safety audits and safety meetings at the corporate level.

However, contractors may not be doing enough to ensure safety. For example, many small contractors said they have no site-specific safety policy in place. Only half of all contractors surveyed said they seek employees’ input on safety conditions. And a mere 39% involve their workers in the development of safety plans.

The report found that while most contractors do not utilize high-tech devices, they acknowledged their usefulness. For example, 11% utilize wearable devices, but 63% say they have the potential to improve safety. Virtual reality training was not as popular: 5% have it, but only 36% regard it as beneficial.

Under workers’ compensation law, employees who have been hurt in job-related incidents, even if they were technically away from the job site, can receive benefits. These benefits may cover all medical costs and some of the wages missed during the physical recovery. Technically, one does not need to prove anyone’s negligence to be eligible, but one may face opposition from the employer. For help with filing a claim and mounting an appeal, a victim may wish to hire a lawyer.