Productivity may be the driving force behind the construction industry, but safety should always be our number one priority. When was the last time your team reviewed your current safety protocols? Is safety top of mind or has it taken a backseat? If your organization has lost its focus, there’s no better time to recommit to safety than this week.
The annual Construction Safety Week, which is this week from May 2nd to May 6th, was founded in 2014 by the Construction Industry Safety Initiative (CISI) group and the Incident and Injury Free (IIF) CEO Forum. Today, more than 70 construction firms across the globe come together with the shared intention to encourage everyone in the industry to be leaders in safety.
The mission of Construction Safety Week is to:
- Thank workers for supporting safety and recognize their efforts to keep their crews injury-free.
- Increase awareness of the importance of maintaining a commitment to safety every day.
- Encourage everyone in the industry to share best practices and work together to strengthen our safety culture.
- Conduct on-site safety awareness activities to support education.
We at I Build America – Ohio support this mission. We know that safety is more than an individual goal. It’s not about watching out for yourself, but rather is a shared commitment that unites our entire industry, across all positions. We may be individual skilled workers, but together we are a team-centered industry. In our field, we all share the same safety job title.
This week, we encourage you to join us in supporting Construction Safety Week’s mission, no matter what your role is on the jobsite. We recommend you:
- Celebrate the hard work you and your team put in to create a safe workplace every day. This will keep motivation high to keep up the great work.
- Contact local contractors in your area and invite them to come together to share information. You have methods that work well for you, but you might find that others have solutions you didn’t know you needed.
Visit the Construction Safety Week website for helpful resources to celebrate Construction Safety Week all week long. New information will be launched every day this week from Monday through Friday. This includes an informational video and relevant supporting materials to help all crews understand safety inside and out. In addition, you can bring Safety Week to your company with their safety tools, best practices information and branded materials. But, it doesn’t stop there. They even have at-home safety activities to take the lessons of safety week home to your loved ones.
This week reminds us that safety is all-encompassing. From proper protocols to best practices, chances are you and your fellow crew members feel comfortable following safety steps on the jobsite. It’s easy to see the instant cause and effect of intentional actions. But, safety really begins on the inside.
One aspect of safety that is often overlooked is mental health. Today, 1 in 5 construction workers struggle with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. As you look for safety hazards in front of you, also be on the lookout for signs of struggle, as these impact safety and productivity more than we may realize. Each of us in the industry is responsible for the wellbeing of our fellow construction crew members. This week, and always, be there for your teammates because the construction industry is built on a community that cares for one another.
We’d love to hear how you and your team work together to strengthen our industry’s safety culture. Share your safety stories with us on Facebook and on Instagram @ibuildamerica_ohio with #ConstructionSafetyWeek.
Together, we will build a stronger, safer Ohio construction industry.
