Worker safety a key need as construction industry rebounds: Report
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A resurgent construction industry must better address issues of worker safety, according to a report released Tuesday by Marsh Risk Consulting, a unit of Marsh Inc.
Citing data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the report, “Building Safety and Leadership in the Construction Industry,” notes that the construction industry's 2012 fatality rate increased to 9.5 per 100,000 workers from 9.1 per 100,000 in 2011. Indeed, the 775 construction-sector deaths recorded in 2012 marks the first annual increase in work-related fatalities since 2006, the report states.
Moreover, Marsh said the trend is not likely to abate without concerted safety improvements by the industry, as an ongoing shortage of experienced construction workers has resulted in many unskilled workers being moved into supervisory roles.
“The increase in new construction activity is bringing an influx of new, inexperienced workers,” the report states. “In this environment, some contractors are stretching their hiring standards to meet project demands.”
Accordingly, the report recommends that construction firms focus on training management to ensure effective leadership and help build a culture of safety at every level of their organizations.
“As the economy grows and the number of new construction projects picks up, now is not the time to be lax on safety,” John Moore, a construction safety specialist in Marsh Risk Consulting's workforce strategies practice, said in a statement. “Inadequate safety performance can lead to employee turnover and various legal, financial and reputational risks. Investing in high-quality leadership will go a long way toward retaining valued workers and maintaining a safe work environment.”
The report is available here with registration.
