Cost ControlInjury & Cost Control Safety Program Elements in Construction Which ones best prevent injuries and control related workers ’ compensation costs ?

THIS CROSS-SECTIONAL DESCRIPTIVE STUDY was designed to identify safety programs, plans and processes commonly used within the construction industry and to determine whether they improve safety performance. A 48-item questionnaire was mailed to 305 construction companies that are members of the Tennessee Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Significant differences (p < 0.05) between safety performance and implementation of key safety program elements were identified for construction companies that reported they 1) employ a full-time safety manager as a key member of the management team; 2) clearly define safety roles/responsibilities; 3) perform drug testing; 4) conduct prejob safety briefs; and 5) attend safety conferences sponsored by AGC. In addition, companies that reported clearly defined safety roles/responsibilities also reported a significantly higher number of key safety program elements including 1) comprehensive safety plans; 2) mechanisms for tracking injury costs, first-aid cases and near-hits; 3) safety inspections; 4) adequate first-aid and medical services; 5) returnto-work programs; 6) incentive programs; and 7) safety training. The study demonstrates that investment in key worker protection programs pays dividends in the reduction of human suffering and the economic costs related to construction fatalities and injuries. Construction remains the most dangerous of all U.S. industries based on the rate of days-away-fromwork injuries and the overall number of on-the-job fatalities. Construction employers continue to report the highest rate of injuries with days away from work of all the major U.S. industry sectors, with a rate of 3.3 compared to the national average of 1.9 (NSC 59). The rate of construction deaths declined only one percent from 1999 to 2000, while the overall number of construction deaths increased five percent. More deaths occurred in construction in the year 2000 than in any other major U.S. industry (NSC 46). In 2000, 1,220 construction workers died as a result of on-the-job injuries. Spurred by the highest rate of days lost due to injury and number of on-the-job fatalities, OSHA developed a focused inspection initiative aimed at reducing construction fatalities and serious medical injuries [OSHA(a)]. Evidence suggests, however, that this enforcement strategy has produced marginal results (Weil 651). Regulatory enforcement has had a modest impact on safety performance even though many large construction firms face a high probability of an annual inspection. According to Weil, the standards cited most often by OSHA are not the major sources of construction fatalities and injuries; furthermore, OSHA enforcement tends to focus on large, high-profile companies rather than on small firms that traditionally report higher fatality and injury rates. Although regulatory enforcement has fallen short in improving the working conditions at construction worksites, the fact that injury rates vary widely among employers and projects within the construcMichael Findley, MSPH, CSP, CIH, is a health and safety manager ith British Nuclear Fuels Inc. He is enrolled in the Ph.D. program within the Dept. of Health and Exercise Science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and is a member of ASSE’s East Tennessee Chapter.