In the construction industry, businesses need to take extra care to ensure the safety of their workers in order to avoid unnecessary workplace injuries and worker’s compensation claims. OSHA safety statistics reveal that approximately 20% of all U.S. worker deaths happen on construction sites.
There are several steps that construction companies can take to protect themselves and their workers. Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) like Makai HR, provide support to construction companies to help improve workplace safety and ultimately succeed by keeping their workers healthy and productive. Let’s take a look at the top five safety needs for construction company success.
Top 5 Safety Needs for Construction Company Success
1. Write a safety manual/policy
It’s very important to keep your workers safe and a thorough safety manual and safety policy will help prevent illness, injury, and death in the workplace. A safety manual is important because it provides instructions on the proper (safe) way to perform workplace tasks without taking unnecessary risks. It also sets the tone for company expectations on safety standards; employees will know that you do not want them to take shortcuts that could jeopardize their health and safety. Makai HR clients benefit from safety manual / policy development support to ensure that they create an effective safety policy.
2. Provide safety training programs
Construction companies can protect workers from on-site accidents and reduce worker’s compensation claims by providing relevant construction safety training programs. Some examples include safety programs for excavation, harnessing, personal protective equipment, trenching, scaffold safety, and OSHA standards. Companies who partner with Makai HR gain access to workplace safety training and guidance
3. Set safety standards for each project
In addition to an overall safety policy, it’s a good idea to set safety standards for each project. Lay out the potential safety risks involved in each project and identify how your company’s safety policies will help prevent each risk from turning into a workplace accident. The project foreman should review the list with all workers who will be on the jobsite before beginning the project to ensure that completing the work safely is top of mind.
4. Purchase worker’s compensation insurance
Hawaii law requires every business with employees to carry workers’ compensation insurance. This insurance is especially important for higher risk industries like the construction industry because it provides medical benefits for employees who are injured on the job. Unfortunately, buying worker’s compensation insurance at affordable prices can be a challenge for small businesses. One of the great benefits of partnering with Makai HR is that small businesses can access worker’s compensation insurance at competitive rates and receive help with claims management and verification.
5. Ensure you’re following OSHA standards
OSHA standards are rules that describe the methods that employers are required to use to protect their employees from on-the-job hazards. There are four groups of OSHA standards: General Industry, Construction, Maritime, and Agriculture. Two of the most common types of OSHA standards for the construction industry are providing fall protection and preventing exposure to harmful substances like asbestos. Makai HR provides OHSA inspection and record-keeping support to help small businesses keep their workers safe and comply with all OSHA standards.
Not excited about employer laws? That’s okay; we’ve got you covered through HR outsourcing! When you partner with Makai HR you can get on with the business you are trying to grow while we take care of your employee needs from payroll to taxes, health insurance/benefits and worker’s compensation. You also gain peace of mind that you are compliant with all of Hawaii’s employer laws (if you’ve ever looked you know that the list is very long and changes happen). When choosing a PEO to partner with, there are many things to consider including cost, services, and technology solutions.
With the cost of doing business in Hawaii at record highs, we know how important it is to keep labor costs in line with revenue. Our plans are priced competitively and include value-added services like time-in/time-out systems. Our three tiers of PEO service plans are tailored to the size of your business and specific needs. We offer a 100% paperless solution which means that your employees can manage their needs through a computer, tablet, or phone. We can truly improve your employees’ work benefits while freeing you up to run your business.
What are you waiting for? Companies that partner with a PEO benefit from 7-9% faster growth, 10-14% lower employee turnover; and they are 50% less likely to go out of business. Contact us today to get started!