Preventing accidents at construction sites is feasible, but only if a construction company is prepared to adopt a zero-accident vision/culture. Fostering a zero-accident culture is based on the premise that all accidents are preventable through continuous construction safety improvements and practices.

Some big construction companies operate for countless manhours without accident. While small and medium-sized contractors can achieve clean records through education, training and an unwavering commitment to building a culture of construction safety.

When a construction company identifies construction safety as a core value of its operations the benefits are two-fold. First, most construction firms know that their skilled workforce is their most valuable asset. Yet with fewer young people entering the construction industry, the labor shortage will be felt by every contractor when the economy recovers. When construction safety is a strong corporate value, construction companies can protect their current assets (their skilled workers) as well as attract competent workers who’ll have long careers.

Work-related accidents on construction sites can happen for a number of reasons. The current climate has left many employees worried about being laid off or saving enough money for retirement. This can lead to stress, fatigue, illness, distraction and subsequent onsite injury. By fostering a zero-accident culture and focusing on construction safety will help employees reduce their stress experience fewer work-related accidents.  

Construction companies’ executive leadership teams must set an example—not just by going out and demonstrating construction safety procedures on the jobsite, but also by ensuring all corporate actions and behaviors clearly define safety as a priority. Executives that participate on the construction safety committee, provide and invest in the best training and personal protective equipment, and stay abreast of federal regulations will see their company move closer to a Zero-Accident Vision.