Safety is one of the most important concerns that any general contractor will have. In fact, the profitability of their business actually depends on it. Without a safe work environment, they run the risk of injuries or damage that could set the job back, if not end it altogether.
Ensuring that the job site is secure and safe for everyone is an essential part of running a construction business. Making sure that the work environment is safe means meeting regulations set federally, as well as locally. When effective safety measures are in place, construction businesses are able to have minimal injuries and reach compliance.
Taking safety seriously is important, not only for legal reasons but also for the care and concern of construction workers. In fact, in 2017, the deaths of construction workers accounted for one in five workplace deaths. When you consider the serious consequences that could arise from an unsafe work environment, it becomes obvious that securing a job site and reducing potential mishaps is essential.
If you are a general contractor that is responsible for the safety measures of your business, you might want to consider hiring a safety consultant. Here’s what you need to know about when to hire a safety consultant for your construction business:
What is a Safety Consultant?
Safety consultants are not employees of the construction company. Instead, they are an outside party specializing in safety. They visit companies in order to assess their safety practices and determine if they are compliant with safety regulations.
Hiring a safety consultant is quite different from having an employee of the company designated as ahead of safety. While many businesses consider having an in-house safety head logical, it can also end up being a hindrance to their overall safety. This is because most employees are going to have difficulty viewing things from an unbiased lens. These employees tend to feel unique pressures as they work towards improving the safety of their workplace while being compelled to keep the impact on the business as minimal as possible. This added loyalty to the business can prevent the safety head from total awareness of any and all safety issues.
On the other hand, a safety consultant is on the outside looking in, with no special interests in the success of the company. They do not have profits or performance goals in mind, and thus, they are entirely capable of determining and suggesting what the business needs for safety compliance.
Safety consultants also offer new eyes to the safety needs of the company, making them a valuable asset and important for developing and implementing best safety practices.
The safety consultant role consists of ensuring each business keeps its employees safe by performing a thorough assessment of hazards in the workplace and the creation of an effective plan for hazard elimination. They accomplish this by working together with each company’s safety team to ensure a rapid move toward effective safety measures.
Why You Should Hire a Safety Consultant?
Being a general contractor means determining the most cost and time-effective ways to safely get each job done. However, along with safety, you also need to keep in mind your budget and ensure that your work meets your standards of quality and expertise. With so many aspects to consider, hiring someone to help can be a great move.
As you work to meet the needs of your company, you may notice that safety is one tricky area with enormous consequences. Instead of taking the time-consuming route of dealing with it yourself, consider hiring a safety consultant. They will assess your safety situation and determine the most effective ways for you to reach compliance. Not only that, a safety consultant will actually help you implement changes and they will oversee your safety program.
Hiring a safety consultant is often the best move for a general contractor to make in regards to their safety measures. If you’re wondering whether hiring a safety consultant is right for you, take a look at these indicators to see if you should follow through:
● You are beginning a large, abnormal project.
● The project you are working on includes the handling of hazardous materials.
● The tasks at the job site are dangerous and the job site itself includes hazards.
● You are ready to implement new safety measures.
● OSHA or DOB is requiring a safety consultant.
● You have had a worksite injury within the past year.
● There was an onsite death during your project.
● There was a disaster such as an earthquake or fire that had the potential to affect others.
Oftentimes, a general contractor will decide to hire a safety consultant due to the death or injury of one of their employees. While this is still an important move, it’s far better to hire a consultant long before a disaster occurs. The simple decision to hire a safety consultant has the power to prevent injuries and fatalities as well as to prevent any lack of compliance.
Hiring a Safety Consultant – Benefits
It’s important to keep in mind that many general contractors do not have the time or the ability to focus on safety for as long as it is needed. This can be frustrating, as the business’ safety is one of its most important aspects. Forget developing a team of your employees set on implementing safety measures, as they will not have the knowledge and understanding needed to successfully navigate things.
Instead, consider hiring a safety consultant to improve your business’ compliance and to help eliminate injuries, while saving you money. Take a look at the multiple benefits of hiring a safety consultant:
● They assess your current safety measures, looking at its strengths and weaknesses, as well as its overall effectiveness.
● They are versed in new compliance requirements and will help make sure you are meeting these requirements.
● They develop custom safety plans based on your unique business culture and budget.
● They are able to showcase the strengths and weaknesses of your business, demonstrating what is working and what isn’t.
● They will develop an effective safety program for your business that greatly reduces any downtime caused by injuries or mishaps.
● By ensuring that you meet compliance regulations, they are able to help you reduce your insurance costs.
● They help you increase your bandwidth by improving your efficiency.
● They have an in-depth understanding of OSHA standards and what it looks like to reach them. Through this understanding, they are uniquely situated to help your business meet these standards.
● They develop safety measures that provide a safer and healthier environment for your employees, reducing sick days and call-outs.
● They aid in improving the mindset of your employees through the creation of a safer and more secure workplace.
● They help you reduce your safety incidents and illnesses which keeps your business more productive and within budget.
● The safe workplace they create will boost the reputation of your business, helping you get more clients.
Not only are safety consultants able to minimize the accidents and injuries in your workplace, but they also provide extra safety services. They complete safety audits, offer safety training for your employees, and help with any safety needs that you have in your company. Instead of focusing on the safety aspects of your business, you will be able to work in other areas while your safety consultant helps you build a safe and compliant company.
How to Find a Safety Consultant?
Once you decide that you’re ready to hire a safety consultant, you’ll want to look for an experienced safety consulting firm that you can trust. The safety of your business is a top priority, which means you’re not going to want to leave it to chance. Here are the things you will want to look for when you’re searching for the best safety consulting firm:
● Education
Safety degree programs demonstrate a level of knowledge and qualification that you will want your safety consultant to have. Before hiring a firm, make sure that their consultants have been educated in safety to ensure the highest level of knowledge.
● Experience
Along with education, you want to make sure that a safety consulting firm has experience. The safety of your business is essential and shouldn’t be left to chance. Ensure that the firm you use is established with a team of well-educated, experienced safety experts.
● Certifications and Memberships
Another important qualification of a safety consulting firm is its certifications and memberships. These components demonstrate the firms’ commitment to maintaining educational standards and staying up to date on safety regulations. Make sure the firm’s safety consultants have memberships and certifications from reputable organizations such as CSP and ASSE instead of questionable ones that only require a paid fee or quick class.
● References
One of the most tell-tale signs of a great safety consulting firm is their past clients. Check the firm for references. Take a look at who their past clients are, the types of industries they have been successful in, and whether their clients would recommend them or not. You will want to make sure that they have multiple positive references spanning an extended time frame. Look online, ask for names and phone numbers, and do some research, to find former clients and to hear about their experience.
● Insured
Any safety consulting firm should have a minimum of one million dollars of professional liability coverage and one million dollars of general liability coverage. Keeping a high amount of coverage is a great sign of their professionalism and care for both their business and their clients.
Contact Menotti Enterprise
Menotti Enterprise is a safety consulting firm providing high-quality safety solutions to the construction industry. Our team of safety consultants is educated and certified construction professionals with experience working with some of the best organizations. We have decades of years of combined experience serving construction businesses and ensuring that they meet safety standards, with a host of satisfied clients to back us up.
When you hire Menotti Enterprise, you can rest assured that the safety of your business is in the best hands. Take the next step to start improving your workplace safety by speaking with Menotti Enterprise today.
