Each year, Construction Safety Week brings awareness to the number one most important goal of the construction industry – keeping workers safe. In order to achieve this, the industry must work to create and promote a culture of safety from top to bottom. Building Skills is committed to this goal of safety and playing its part in sharing the necessary information and resources to continue building a safety culture across its employment network and throughout the broader New York construction industry.
Normally observed in May, Safety Week 2020 has been postponed to this week, September 14-18, due to COVID-19. The mission of Safety Week lies around four distinct themes as a means to achieving a stronger, safer industry. Learn more about each specific theme:
- Increasing Awareness of Safety
The first step in achieving a culture of safety is increasing awareness around its importance as a whole. In the construction industry, safety should be thought of as a value and belief that every individual adheres to. Ensuring that all members of the construction community are fully cognizant of the role that safety plays in the industry sets the right tone for the day-to-day environment of each jobsite.
- Thanking Workers for Supporting Safety Efforts
Safety protocols and practices mean nothing if workers choose not to follow them. Each day, workers on jobsites across the country comply with safety mandates and regulations that help keep themselves – and others – injury free. Recognizing these efforts is an important piece of the responsibility each member of the construction industry has to one another in making sure everyone returns home safely at the end of their shift.
- Encouraging Industry Collaboration on Best Practices
To strengthen the overall safety culture and performance, it’s critical to share best practices, tools, and resources within the industry. From top to bottom, active collaboration and communication are required for keeping all individuals as safe as possible. Safety Week is intended to be an opportunity for people, companies – and even competitors – to come together for a crucial cause.
- Supporting Safety Education
By conducting on-site awareness activities and ongoing education to reinforce safety practices, construction contractors and subcontractors can help to build on what workers have learned in their Site Safety Training. While all workers are required to complete their OSHA 30 in order to be employed on a site, it’s easy to forget specifics overtime. Depending on the type of construction work, on-the-job learning and re-learning – as well as expanding opportunities to outside trainings – are necessary to keep safety information fresh.
Learn more about Construction Safety Week 2020 here.