Worker Safety a Continuing Issue for Construction Companies

Maintaining a safe and functional job site is a key challenge for construction industry companies. Whether focused on commercial, residential, school or highway construction, keeping workers safe is an essential imperative. That’s why so many companies have developed comprehensive safety practices to reduce the opportunity for issues to arise. In fact, many construction companies maintain their safety focus to help reduce insurance premium costs. While best efforts can reduce incidences, it will not eliminate them completely. According to the  2019 Highway Worker Safety Zone Survey, conducted by the Associated General Contractors (ACG), 67% of highway contractors reported that a motor vehicle crashed into their work zone during the past year. This is a stunning and sharp increase from the 2016 edition of the survey where only 39% of contractors reported such a crash. To help clients, prospects and others understand the survey results and impact on the industry, Wilson Lewis has provided a summary of key data below.

About the Survey

The survey was conducted online during the months of March and April of 2019. Over 400 highway construction contractors of various sizes and revenues were asked to participate. A total of 392 respondents provided answers to all questions which the remaining only answered select questions.

Safety Survey Findings

• Worker Injuries – The survey wanted to uncover the number of workers injured in vehicle crashes on the job site. According to the survey, 72% indicated that no workers were injured, 14% indicated one was injured, 10% indicated two were injured and only 3% indicated that 3 workers were injured. When asked about fatalities, 92% indicated there were no fatalities while the remaining indicated that there were one or more fatalities.
• Project Delays – Another area to explore was the amount of time the crash caused a delay in the project. According to respondents, 38% indicated the crash did not delay the project, 31% indicated there was less than a one day delay, 7% indicated there was a one day delay, 8% indicated a two day delay, 5% indicated a three day delay and 10% indicated there was more than a five day delay due to the crash.
• Safety Risks – Given the sharp increase in the number of accidents over the past few years, the survey wanted to assess whether contractors believe the risk for accidents has changed. According to the survey, 73% believe they are at greater risk of accidents, 13% believe the risk has diminished while 14% believe the risk is about the same. Given the sharp increase in the number of accidents, it’s no surprise many believe their safety is at an increased risk.
• Safety Measures – The use of safety measures is critical to workers. For this reason, the survey inquired about the measures which could be taken to increase worker safety. According to respondents, 79% believe a greater police presence would lead to fewer accidents, 55% indicated tougher traffic laws, 72% indicated more strict enforcement of existing regulations, 67% indicated closing roads and detouring traffic. What’s interesting is that only 27% of respondents believe that additional worker safety training would reduce the risk. An interesting number as it reflects the belief that drivers are generally the cause of the issue.

Contact Us
Safety is a top concern for Atlanta area contractors and construction companies. It not only protects the company skilled professionals but ensures that projects can be completed on-time and without incident. If you have questions about the survey or need assistance with a construction tax or audit issue, Wilson Lewis can help. For additional information please call us at 770-476-1004 or click here to contact us. We look forward to speaking with you soon.