Massachusetts Construction Insurance: Contractor Safety- Part 1

If you own a construction company, or even if you are an independent contractor, it’s imperative that you focus on job site safety. The construction industry has one of the highest incidences of workplace injuries, and injury can occur to even the most experienced professionals.

In the late 1920’s a theory was developed regarding the sequence of events that lead to construction injuries. This is called Heinrich’s Domino Theory, and it places strong emphasis on the Unsafe Work Act/ Unsafe Work Condition “domino” as Heinrich believed that unsafe acts more frequently are the cause of incidents than unsafe work conditions. In a previous post we discussed job site safety for all the individuals involved in the project. Part 1 of this post will be focusing on contractor safety and the behaviors that could potentially lead to injuries.

Behavior: Distraction

Stressful situations can sometimes lead to careless mistakes such as failure to turn off a machine or neglecting to set a brake. Technology such as cell phone can also prove to be a distraction to on-site workers. If you are a project manager or job-site supervisor, encourage your workers to take regular, scheduled breaks where they can refresh or tend to personal business. This could potentially help take distraction out of the equation.

Behavior: Complacency                                         

Sometimes work gets to be so repetitive that contractors may overlook safety best practices. It’s important as a construction manager to consistently train staff about safety, acknowledge when safe practices are followed, and recognize standout workers.

Behavior: Ignoring or Being Unaware of Regulations

While a company can offer regular and thorough safety training, there will always be instances where workers ignore certain procedures. Be sure to emphasize the importance of safety equipment before and during every project. Safety needs to be a priority on every job site.

If you own a Massachusetts construction company, or even if you are an independent Massachusetts contractor, it’s imperative that you focus on job site safety. The construction industry has one of the highest incidences of workplace injuries, and injury can occur to even the most experienced professionals.

At Sinclair Risk & Financial Management, our construction specialists work with clients of all types and fully understand the diversity of this industry. Our customized Construction Insurance program is based on your unique needs. Just a couple of products we offer include Professional Liability Insurance and Workers’ Compensation. Please contact us at (877) 602-2305 for more information.