Safety training impacts the bottom line

Words: David AbelStudies have shown that career and technical education aids in the process of having a quality and productive workforce. Providing young craft professionals with hands-on learning before they begin their careers supports a stronger, more efficient workforce capable of improving company and personal productivity. Not everyone has the ability or desire to go to college, and all individuals deserve opportunities to learn skills that will allow them to succeed in the workplace. Formal education programs, such as career and technical education classes, enable students to more efficiently begin a career upon graduation.

In the past, many craft professionals had to learn their craft through trial and error and did not always learn the necessary safety practices that go along with it. A popular held belief at the time was that integrating safety training meant having a negative impact on production. However, the theory that safety training countered productivity collapsed due to research showing its cost savings. The overall performance and profitability of a company can be improved by implementing training for safe work practices without taking craft professionals away from their productive tasks.

Production-focused management promotes potential savings in insurance premiums through lower loss ratios and a lower Experience Modification Rate (EMR). Sustained and consistent communication between safety support and production management creates a measurable, positive relationship. Numerous studies have demonstrated that developing a safety culture noticeably promotes employee responsibility. Research also shows that employee safety training measurably improves morale and productivity and leads to fewer issues with regulatory agencies like OSHA. Companies that choose to ignore the comprehensive studies supporting safety training are losing money. Without training, companies can experience decreased production and increased litigation. There are several modalities of safety training that can be implemented in a company’s workforce.

  • Consultants, third-party training organizations and insurance providers offer curricula and can schedule training sessions on or off site.

  • In-house trainers can conduct training sessions, as well as develop their own curriculum or use an established methodology.

  • Agencies such as The Associated General Contractors of America and Associated Builders and Contractors offer training, generally in a central location away from the project site.

  • NCCER offers safety curricula, which can be taught worldwide by contractors, associations, construction users and secondary and postsecondary schools.

Supervisors should be included in the training process to ensure that everyone is hearing and supporting a consistent message. Having the wisdom gained through experience certainly adds to the credibility and effectiveness of the supervisor.

For many years, companies and organizations have documented that training has improved their bottom line. The value of both craft skills and safety training must be maintained on a consistent and sustained level to support a company’s return on investment, marketability and safety culture. Ultimately, safety training increases the overall value of the company and industry.
About: SafetyFeatured
 0
La Maison Franchère: How Masonry Turns Functional Buildings Into Timeless Beauty

La Maison Franchère, or the Franchers’ House, stands as a notable relic of stone architecture in Saint-Mathies, a small Quebec town on the edge of the Richelieu River. Unlike the neighboring homes, this towering, two-and-a-half-story mansion immediately c

By: Vera Autushka
Read More
MASONRY STRONG Podcast Episode 5 Recap: Zach Everett

Welcome back to another insightful episode of the Masonry Strong podcast! Today, we have a very special guest, Zach Everett, sharing his journey and experiences in the world of safety within the masonry industry. From humble beginnings to becoming a vital

By: Justin Stengel
About: Featured
Read More
What Is Crisis Management?

Crisis management is a process that employers use to respond to, and recover from, unplanned events. The best time to develop a crisis management plan is before a crisis occurs. A crisis management plan can help companies maintain business continuity, pro

By: Michael Rosser
About: Featured
Read More
Cost Management and Efficiency in Masonry Projects

With masonry being a piece count trade, the more units that are laid in the field that surpass the quantity figured in the estimate, the more profit that is made. Masonry crews in the field need a good foreman that is capable of organizing the crew, posit

By: Domenic Livoli
About: Featured
Read More