Finish Strong: Safety First

Almost done with a big project? Time for one more big push ahead of bad weather? Really must make a client extra happy? Whatever the reason, time crunches can make safety seem secondary, but temptations to skip through or rush over precautions contribute greatly to accidents. Successful and sustainable construction businesses integrate safety priorities into the work of each day, and the culture of teams too. Avoid getting sloppy in the home stretch of projects with these important reminders. 

Everyday Hazhards

When heavy equipment, heights, and electrical currents are involved, there’s no room for even a momentary lapse of judgment or a careless action. As Allyson Sherrier reminds us in For Construction Pros, “From lurking trip hazards to shocking electrical risks, safety lapses can turn an ordinary workday into a real nightmare.” Three of the most common dangers everyone in construction needs to remain vigilant about every day, on every project are:

1. Falls from Heights:The most terrifying hazard on any site is also one of the most preventable. Falls on the jobsite remain the leading cause of deaths in construction. Missing guardrails, unanchored ladders and improper harness use can all lead to serious injuries. Inspect fall protection gear daily and make sure workers are trained and tied off before climbing.

2. Electrical Exposure:Frayed cords and wet environments can turn power tools into shock traps. Keep cords off the ground, use GFCI outlets, and lockout/tagout all live circuits before work begins. A little precaution goes a long way toward avoiding a shocking surprise.

3. Struck-By Incidents: One of the “Fatal Four” construction hazards. Heavy equipment, swinging loads and flying debris can turn the jobsite into a danger zone. Establish clear communication, use spotters, and enforce exclusion zones to protect everyone on site.

The old expression, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” remains particularly apt in the construction business, which is why Construction Pros continue to emphasize: “Don’t let preventable hazards come back to haunt you. Regular training, daily inspections and a strong safety culture can keep your crew safe….” When training, and through regular reminders, two other topics experts urge taking seriously are caught-in between hazards, and lapses related to personal protection equipment (PPE):

• Caught-in Between: Never get between a piece of moving machinery and a fixed object. Proper equipment guarding, trench protection and situational awareness can help prevent crushing injuries — and keep your crew from getting trapped in a tight spot.
• PPE Lapses: It’s easy to get complacent, but skipping PPE is a grave mistake. Hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, and high-vis gear should be non-negotiable. Supervisors should set the example and make PPE compliance part of the culture.

Avoid Pressure To Accelerate

Among the most important ways construction business owners can keep every worker safe on every job is to avoid pressing for accelerated effort, even in the face of timing jams.The National Council of Structural Engineers Associations point out that pressure to accelerate is in itself a safety hazard, and it is often the root cause of devastating incidents and injuries:

The push to shorten project timelines can lead to compounding errors during construction, and existing infrastructure is not getting the maintenance and repairs it needs … .Speed is a problem from two fronts … .When owners shorten a project schedule, the architect may not be finished by the start of construction. Engineers are told that the designs will be looked at sometime down the road, but an opportunity for review doesn’t always happen … .On the construction side, contractors often struggle to find enough especially if there’s a building boom in the region. As a result, they may try to get work done quickly while they still have labor available.

Avoid the trap of being pushed to accelerate a project past what is viable, by keeping a steady focus on creating and maintaining a strong culture of safety. Doing so really helps to prevent issues from snowballing, as the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations underscores: “If a company has made safety a core value and won’t accept a less-safe alternative, they will then push harder to negotiate from a position of strength and confidence in the product of their company and their abilities to get the right amount of time….If you’re negotiating from a position of weakness because of whatever reason — you underbid, you’re not totally qualified — errors become compounding errors and start to multiply. It’s rarely one bad decision that causes a construction site problem….” 

Competing for The Win?

One way to speed things up–safely–and give your business an edge, is to qualify for the The Partnership Account® for Contractors with Colonial Surety Company. Once you do, you’ll never worry about bid bonds again—and you’ll have a whole lot more going for you too, with these benefits:

• Instant Bid Bond Issuance: Issue your own bid bonds in minutes! No more waiting, so you can go after those juicy project opportunities. You’ll have speedy, easy payment and performance bonds too.

• Free Business Credit Scores: Get a free snapshot of your business health instantly with our pre-qualification process.

• Written Bonding Limits: Strategically grow your business, knowing exactly how much project value you can cover with our written bonding limits.

• Real-Time Dashboard: Gain clear visibility into your underwriting profile and financial data – all in one place.

Colonial Surety Company can help smaller contractors move their businesses forward too. Our Hometown Bond Program provides local builders with credit based underwriting bonds for up to $250k—no financial statements required.  

Surety Bond programs for construction businesses of every size are right here: Bonding Programs at Colonial Surety Company

Founded in 1930, Colonial Surety Company is a leading direct seller and writer of surety bonds and insurance products across the USA. Colonial is rated “A Excellent” by A.M. Best Company and U.S. Treasury listed.

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