Report: Small Construction Firms Have Room for Improvement on Safety

Boston — Although smaller construction firms continue to make strides in their commitment to employee safety, health and well-being, they still have room for improvement, according to a recent report from Dodge Construction Network.

For its seventh biennial report on safety management in the construction industry, the network – a provider of data, analytics and project leads for the commercial construction industry – conducted a survey of 323 general and specialty trade contractors.

Findings show that, compared with those from the 2023 report, construction firms with 20 or fewer employees showed progress on:

• The use of online safety training.
• Offering employee assistance programs.
• Using multiple methods to gauge and prevent heat exposure.

The growth in these areas was even faster than among mid-sized or larger construction employers, notes a press release from survey partner CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training.

"While small contractors still lag larger firms in the overall use of formal safety management practices," Donna Laquidara-Carr, industry insights research director at Dodge Construction Network, said in the release, "the data clearly shows they are increasing their commitment to protecting workers and improving health and well-being at a faster rate than in previous studies."

Other findings

More than 80% of the firms reported using heat illness and injury prevention strategies – notably provisions for water, rest and shade. Other strategies: environmental monitoring, training and emergency response plans.

"Use of weather forecasts, mobile heat safety apps and PPE to assess heat risk has also increased, particularly among small firms," the release adds.

However, 62% of the firms with 20 or fewer employees have a heat safety plan, compared with more than 80% of the midsize and large firms.

The percentage of small contractors with employee assistance programs increased to 25 from 16 in the previous report. Overall, 46% of the contractors have an EAP.

"The study also highlights that 52% of contractors report their workers often face daily commutes exceeding 100 miles or overnight stays," the release states. "These conditions can increase stress and fatigue, key factors that can negatively affect worker well-being."

Technology use

The technologies most frequently used by the contractors to enhance safety: predictive analytics, wearable sensors and virtual reality training. Overall, these technologies are used by fewer than half of the survey respondents.

The release notes that other "widely used" technologies, such as Building Information Modeling, laser scanning and drones, are typically used to improve productivity, "but they have safety applications as well."

Added Laquidara-Carr, "This suggests significant untapped potential for contractors to leverage technology more strategically to improve safety on the jobsite."