Construction worker deaths have been on the rise in Connecticut and across the U.S. In fact, data from the Center for Construction Research and Training shows that overall deaths in the construction industry increased by 26 percent between 2011 and 2015. Fatal accidents involving caught-in and caught-between injuries spiked by 33 percent over the same period. However, a new report by the Associated Builders and Contractors, or ABC, claims that companies that follow its safety program can vastly reduce workplace injuries and deaths.
ABC has created a safety program called the Safety Performance Evaluation Process, or STEP. The program utilizes proactive safety measures to foster a safer working environment for workers. These measures include new-hire orientations and substance abuse programs. The association says that following the STEP program can help construction companies become 670 percent safer than the industry average. It also says that the program can reduce reportable safety incidents by 85 percent.
Other STEP safety measures include toolbox talks, workplace-specific safety orientations, near-hit and near-miss analysis and the creation of site safety committees. The program also provides tools for construction companies to assess their safety programs, measure their improvement and learn best practices to reduce reportable incidents, days away and experience modification rates.
Construction workers who suffer on-the-job injuries may be eligible to file a workers compensation claim. If approved, this claim might provide an injured worker medical coverage and wage replacement payments while they are recovering at home. However, workers should be aware that there are strict deadlines involved when filing workers’ compensation claims. Therefore, it may be helpful to consult with an attorney to ensure the claim is expeditiously prepared. Source: Construction Dive, “ABC: Proactive measures can boost jobsite safety by 670%,” Kim Slowey, March 23, 2018
Source: Construction Dive, “ABC: Proactive measures can boost jobsite safety by 670%”, Kim Slowey, March 23, 2018
