Construction Safety Week 2023
This week, the industry recognizes Construction Safety Week. Why is construction safety such an important topic? Once you see the numbers, it’s easy to see once you dig into the numbers. Of all deaths among US workers, construction accounts for 21%. A majority of fatal occupation injuries and a large proportion of nonfatal injuries result from construction focus four hazards, which include falls to a lower level, struck-by electrocutions, and caught-in/between injuries.
Recognizing the value of construction employees and the dangers they face daily is the reason why Construction Safety Week was created. Safety Week was started in 2014 when more than 40 national and global construction firms comprising the Construction Industry Safety Initiative (CISI) group and the Incident and Injury Free (IIF) CEO Forum joined forces with a single aim: to inspire everyone in the industry to be leaders in safety. The theme of this year’s Safety Week is “Strong Voice, Safe Choices.” and focuses on the following:
Empowerment: Raising up the craft professionals and the important role they play in keeping their teams and job sites safe
Building strong teams who work safely is the most important job for everyone on every construction site. It’s our common ground, a belief and a duty that unites
us all. And at the center of all the activity, the hazards, and the frontline efforts to keep our team and environment safe on any project are the craft professionals.
The dedicated teams with eyes and ears constantly open, on the ground observing, evaluating, and overcoming anything standing in the way of getting home
safe at the end of the day. Those who are empowered to step in, speak up, and work together to stop anything that puts our safety at risk.
Recognition: Uniting teams around our shared obligation and belief that we can see more, prevent more, and overcome more, together
Not all hazards are obvious or easy to recognize, even to those who see and face them every day; some are hidden in plain sight. Hidden in the routine things we
do every day, hidden in the reactions we have when things don’t go as planned. So we all have the responsibility and obligation to not just speak up, but to act, and
to always have each other’s backs. That means craft professionals, management, customers, design professionals, and trade partners have to work together to
create a supportive environment, to hear and help one another when it’s time to pause, assess, and take charge of anything that could put ourselves or our team
in harm’s way.
Partnership: Reinforcing how our collective strength and safety are achieved by working together to stay alert, focused, and supported at all times
Getting the job done well and as safely as possible is something we take great pride in every day, and we have the collective ability to see into every detail, to
recognize when something isn’t right, and to stop these hidden risks before they escalate into something far worse. We must always be conscious of our
surroundings and our actions, and work together to prevent any distractions that may arise from leading to serious consequences. When the plans change, new
hazards are identified, or an unforeseen condition occurs, it’s on us all to be there and be ready to recognize, listen, and lead each other toward the safest
solutions and outcomes.
Impact: Elevating our drive and dedication to building a culture where everyone is empowered to own and act on safety
This is our obligation, but it’s also a promise we make to each other because we care. We care about the communities in which we live, work, and play. We care
about the friends and families who expect us to return home safely every day. We care about every voice, every choice, and every action that helps us to not only
stay true to that promise, but to also make a positive impact as individuals, teams, and an entire industry. When there’s trust, respect, and communication, we
are all empowered to own and act on safety. That’s how we can break the patterns that lead to accidents and injuries, strengthen our connections, and create
more opportunities to improve our safety culture.
Visit the Construction Safety Week website to learn more about their pledge and drive to promote a rigorous safety culture.
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