By Michael Zalle, YellowBird
The importance of safety and compliance cannot be minimized by companies across the construction industry. It means protecting lives and avoiding delayed projects, hefty OSHA fines, and damaged reputation. But with so many regulatory marks and guidelines, employers are charged with the responsibility of finding the expertise to implement safety compliance in the workplace so they can focus on what they do best: Prospecting, managing clients, navigating the changing sector, etc. Larger companies can rely on full-time safety employees to oversee compliance. However, a vast number of employers in the sector cannot afford a full-time safety employee, and chances are you are one of them. So how can you bridge this safety gap? Here are some of the strategies subcontractors across the country are adopting to keep workers safe before and during workforce expansions.
1. Smart PPE
I have been watching with enthusiasm as wearable devices become a safety tool. You may have seen some of the up-and-coming personal protective equipment (PPE) gadgets and worksite clothing that feature sensors to monitor biometric data and location in real time. This is a much-needed, smart use of technology to keep workers safe, and it’s particularly critical for workers in areas of the country that experience excessive heat or cold temperatures, and for workforces that have employees in the higher risk group for heart and respiratory incidents, for example. The devices monitor heart rate, calories burned, blood pressure, oxygen level, body temperature, and more. We look forward to a day when these gadgets will also allow employers to monitor safety habits and fatigue, for example, given that these factors cause many occupational accidents every year.
2. Emerging Technology
Your company may be too small to have a dedicated environmental, health and safety (EHS) professional on staff, but that doesn’t mean that hazards go away. In fact, occupational injuries tend to be higher in smaller operations and in build-up/tear-down operations. You can still be compliant and keep workers safe by leveraging technology. Over the last decade, artificial intelligence, virtual reality and the gig economy have dramatically disrupted entire industries, including the safety sector. Your organization can benefit from it by hiring on-demand expertise for fall protection training, first aid programs, confined space training, and more. As an artificial intelligence-powered gig platform, we at YellowBird take pride in helping employers tap into a national network of vetted EHS professionals to meet their needs for a few hours, days or weeks.
3. Changing landscape of safety gigs
Safety and compliance were boosted by the recent public health pandemic, bringing the importance of industrial hygiene and indoor air quality to the front of everyone’s minds. As a result, we have observed a strong increase of EHS gigs related to indoor air quality and return-to-work protocols. This prompted us to develop a leading program designed to help business owners assess their workplace safety as far as infection prevention, ventilation, and compliance with CDC recommendations.
Another trend is the ability, powered by gig economy platforms, to provide organizations with EHS professionals who are specialized in one area of EHS. For decades, organizations relied on one generalist full-time EHS professional to manage all aspects of safety and compliance. This individual was charged with the responsibility to know everything, but not enough to make him a specialist in the many areas covered by EHS.
4. Substance Abuse as a Safety Hazard
As an employer in the construction industry, you may have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of substance abuse. It has been estimated that workers in the construction industry have nearly twice the rate of substance abuse compared to the general population. This translates into major safety hazards for the workforce, reduces employee productivity, and increases turnover. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has found that acute alcohol use impairs vision, psychomotor skills/abilities, reaction time and judgement about risk-taking, all of which are strongly linked to motor vehicle crashes, fall injuries, drowning, firearm injuries, and occupational and machine injuries. The CDC also estimates that alcohol use contributes to 18% of workplace injuries. That is why some employers in the industry are leading a campaign to implement groundbreaking initiatives to offer treatment and support for affected workers. This includes keeping workers in the paysheet while they seek substance abuse help.
It isn’t charity. It’s a long-term investment in quality workers, and companies implementing this approach say it’s worth it. They have been able to reduce substance use-related illness and injuries, decrease short- and long-term disability impacted by substance use, and assist workers return to work. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), workers in recovery use less unscheduled leave for illness and injury, are less likely to turn over, use fewer health care services and cost much less than their peers whose substance use is untreated. If you have encountered safety incidents related to substance abuse in your organization, you might consider reading the NSC’s free Opioid at Work Employers’ Toolkit, which can help you outline drug-related HR policies and procedures to support your employees.
5. Ongoing Safety Refreshers
Safety training is a necessary part of the onboarding process, but workers are human beings and human beings get distracted, underestimate their own safety risks, learn new skills while forgetting old skills, etc. One safety strategy on the rise is shifting away from the one-and-only training session in the onboarding process, to a sustained, ongoing safety training program. With such high risks and consequences, you might want to consider hosting monthly safety refreshers. I know, I can already see eyes rolling and hear sighs of boredom. Make it fun, make it interactive, make it a speed-dating format. Ensuring safety and reducing injuries can be a fun monthly campaign. I know a company that has created Wednesday Wrong Way, a weekly campaign to raise awareness about safety by sharing unsafe, yet funny, use of equipment. This trend is so prevalent across the country that YellowBird created a workplace health and safety training program customized for each industry. Whether it is general first aid and CPR training or an industry-specific OSHA standard course, YellowBird can train and, in some cases, certify your employees during the training session. Let an experienced EHS professional help you stay safe.
Trust me: money and time spent on workplace safety and compliance today will save lives and thousands of dollars later. The outcomes are a win-win for employers and workers. Take advantage of these new trends and applications to bring your organization to the next level.
About the Author
Michael Zalle is the founder and CEO of YellowBird, a gig-economy marketplace that quickly and easily connects Risk and Safety professionals with businesses on-demand. By providing a fast and efficient method for insurance companies, business leaders and skilled professionals to consult, YellowBird matches the right people, in the right location, with the right experience for the job. A career tech entrepreneur, Michael has accumulated successful exits throughout his 25-year career. He attended San Francisco State University and Pepperdine University with a focus on Business Management. He is a husband of 20 years and father of two great kids, Nicholas (16) and Josephine (12).
