8 Construction Safety Myths

Many organizations pay a lot of attention to construction safety. Considering the competition on the market, every employer is concerned about their reputation and therefore makes sure that the workers stay healthy and safe.

The downside of such increased attention to the safety regulations is that the employees know the rules but do not know what stands behind the  safety at work. As a result, a lot of myths appear. 

• Safety is our top priority!

Even though all employers claim to be a safe place for the workers, this might not be quite true. The main goal of all businesses is profit, not safety. Of course, the employer cares about the laborers and provides the safety equipment and osha 30 hour training; however, you can never state it is a number one priority.

• Only the  safety department is responsible for safety

The workers might be neglecting the instruction and think that it's not part of their tasks, however, the fact is that not only the safety department should be following the rules, but also each employee must obtain a 30 hour osha card.  

• OSHA sst training provides safety

Completing the OSHA training and applying the knowledge in practice is definitely a good start. However, what the regulations require is the least of what should be done. Relying solely on the annual training is irresponsible and ineffective. To ensure better safety, the employer can and should put their own stricter rules in place.

• Safety performance is measured by OSHA indicators

In fact, it is the opposite. OSHA statistics measure non-safety. Every KPI that OSHA has is based on the inability to run the processes properly - fatal cases, injuries, lost workdays.

• Auditing and site inspections are the key to safe workspaces

Auditors and inspectors are there to detect the deficiencies in processes. But it is the employer's role to fix them. Completing the osha training nyc helps to understand the requirements and the ways of implementing them in practice.

• Construction firms that are missing safety are bided lower

The fewer accidents the company has, the more cost-effective it is (insurance fees, labor costs, fines, etc.). Thus it is self-explanatory that such entities get higher bids. The contractors who save up on safety initially will understand in the end that it would be cheaper to take care of safety at the beginning.

• Safety is something you can see or do

Many might think that safety is an activity which you do. In fact, safety is something that appears as a result of proper work behavior, safety knowledge, and practical application. NYC sst training teaches how to do work productively while caring about the quality and safety of the employees. 

• PPE is enough to protect workers.

Personal protective equipment is for sure helpful. However, it is the last line of defense when all other levels do not work. PPE has the ability to minimize the consequences of accidents, but it cannot prevent them. It should always be paired with the safety rules compliance to guarantee maximum effectiveness.