Out of 4,674 private sector fatalities in 2017, 20.7% of those fatalities came from the construction industry. In other words, construction workers alone account for one in five worker deaths.
Whether you’re dealing with a job site accident or an everyday mishap, construction is a dangerous industry. And unfortunately, you can’t remove every potential hazard that might harm your workers – unless, of course, you shut down the entire job site.
Nonetheless, you have a responsibility to protect your workers. This is where a construction health and safety consultant can help you. Here are three reasons why your company can’t afford to go without one.
You Want What’s Best for Your Employees
You’re a business owner, yes, but you’re also a human being with a moral responsibility to protect those who work for you, especially when you ask them to perform dangerous work on a daily basis. You want what’s best for your employees because without them, your job site can’t function.
But more than that, you know that if you were in their place, you’d want someone looking out for you to make sure you could go home safe to your family at the end of the day.
A construction health and safety consultant is an investment in your employees’ wellbeing. They know how to balance your bottom line with what your employees need to stay safe on the job.
You’re Probably Not an Expert (or Unbiased)
If you’re like many business owners, you may be protesting. After all, you know you have your employees’ best interests at heart. Since you know your job sites better than anyone, wouldn’t that make you best equipped to deal with safety issues on those sites?
Not exactly.
Unless you’ve been trained to handle construction EHS, chances are you’re not a safety expert. You’re concerned with the day-to-day operations of your business, which means you don’t have much time to stay up to speed on the latest health and safety regulations and best practices.
Even if you are trained as a safety professional, your obligations as a business owner come first. Oftentimes, you simply don’t have the time to focus on health and safety when you also have to focus on keeping your business running.
Plus, even if you do know your way around health and safety, being so close to your business means you’re not an unbiased observer. It’s the same reason that veteran workers miss basic safety issues – they’re so used to the job that they don’t even notice. As a business owner, it’s easy to fall into the same trap.
A consultant is there to do one job: keep your employees safe and healthy. They can focus on doing that job well and you can focus on what you do best: running your business.
You Can Improve Your Bottom Line
However, make no mistake: a construction health and safety consultant is a solid business investment.
Far too many business owners think of consultants as an expense necessary to comply with federal regulations. But a consultant is more than that. Safe and healthy workplace practices allow you to attract better employees, promote a stronger company and safety culture, and even improve your public reputation.
The reason is simple: by investing in a consultant and going above and beyond simple compliance, you’re showing that safety is a value and that your employees matter to you.
Maximizing the Benefits of a Construction Health and Safety Consultant
So, the real question is: why haven’t you hired a construction health and safety consultant yet? When you’re making an investment in your employees and your company’s future, there’s no time like the present to get started.
And if you’re ready to go one step further and strengthen your overall safety program, we’re here to help. We know the unique challenges of the building and construction industry and we developed comprehensive safety solutions to match them. Ready to invest in your future? Get in touch today to learn more.
