The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment just released its latest numbers on workplace fatalities in the state. These numbers take time to compile, so we’re just now seeing numbers for 2015. The report is a mixed bag: While overall workplace deaths went down, they went up in the construction industry. This is partly due to numbers: More people worked in construction in 2015 than the previous year.

There’s no doubt about it, construction is a hazardous industry. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to manage the inherent risks of the construction jobsite. Several members of our safety team specialize in construction, and they have a few tips:

• New employees are more likely to be injured on a construction site, even if they already have experience. Learn how to safely bring on a new employee.
• Conduct frequent and regular safety observations. Research shows that the more safety observations you conduct, the safer your jobsite will be. Tools like iAuditor, Predictive Solutions, and even a good paper checklist can help you conduct a jobsite safety inspection.
• Enroll your employees in an OSHA 10 Hour for Construction course.
• Check out OSHA’s construction-specific resources and review OSHA’s construction regulations.
• Review OSHA’s big four hazards for construction companies, as well as the top ten most frequently cited OSHA standards, and consider where you might be falling short.
• Pinnacol’s website has loads of free resources and free online training from JJ Keller.
• Contact one of our safety consultants via our Safety on Call hotline at 888.501.4752 anytime Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Written by John Crawmer, Safety Services Supervisor.