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I once heard a contractor say that safety starts at the top. His point was that safety is not a grassroots initiative. Companies with the best safety records do so by making it a priority from the very top and drive that culture down and through their organizations.

And why wouldn’t you? Accidents are preventable. It’s like Benjamin Franklin said: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” From a pure dollars and cents perspective, safe workplaces are proven to save companies money. Fewer accidents mean less lost time, lower rates on workers’ compensation insurance, and lower workforce turnover.

What about companies with high incident rates? Well, the exact opposite shows to be the case. Insurance companies are not the only ones that care. Owners and upstream contractors also value employers with strong initiatives to make workplaces safe. Every project team is only as strong as its weakest link. No one wants a contractor on the jobsite who will put others at risk.

Now that we’ve established the value, how do you make it a reality?

First, take advantage of the resources available through the organizations you are already a part of. Most trade groups can provide the resources that you need to start an initial safety program. The Associated Builders and Contractors‘ Safety Training Evaluation Process, known as STEP, helps companies prioritize safety by putting them through a rigorous audit to determine their programs’ efficacy and thoroughness. It helps them identify blind spots and gaps in their systems so that they can address them before a tragedy occurs.

While ABC isn’t alone in offering such programs, I will tell you that companies that have completed the STEP process have Total Recordable Incidence Rates (TRIR) 38 percent below the Bureau of Labor Statistics average. Contractors that achieve STEP platinum and diamond levels are 67 and 86 percent better respectively.

The other critical component of a top-notch safety program is a drug- and alcohol-free workplace program. The Construction Coalition for a Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace offers contractors a wealth of resources to implement such policies. The group, a coalition of leading industry stakeholders, has proposed a minimum set of standards for drug and alcohol policies, and asks companies to sign the Drug and Alcohol Workplace Pledge. It states that the company will enact a substance abuse testing policy equal to, or greater than, the one featured on the coalition’s website, www.DrugFreeConstruction.org. Signing the pledge is required for all ABC STEP participants.

DrugFreeConstruction.org also provides model policies, designed around industry-best practices. They are customizable to conform with local laws.

Safe workplaces don’t happen by accident – no pun intended. They require a commitment from the very top of an organization. They manifest themselves when owners and managers have the will to create a safe workplace and focus on the best practices that bring them to fruition. If you aren’t there yet, take some time and do some research. Use the tools at your disposal and change the culture of your organization. You’ll never regret taking the time to prevent the preventable.

Laurie Kendall is president of the Associated Builders and Contractors’ Pacific Northwest chapter. Contact her at 503-598-0620 or at [email protected].