Construction companies in New Jersey may be able to save money and improve employee morale by making worker safety a top priority. Employers should start the process of creating a safety plan long before a project actually begins. Examples of safety measures include blocking off areas where tasks are being completed or providing adequate scaffolding for those who may be at risk of falling. In addition to creating thorough safety protocols, it is important for project managers to communicate those protocols to workers.
Ideally, a safety meeting will be held at the beginning of the week as close to lunchtime as possible. This is because most construction site deaths occur between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., and an estimated 75% of all construction site fatalities occur between Monday and Thursday. Those who manage industrial projects are encouraged to have multiple meetings because they tend to be more dangerous than residential or commercial projects.
These meetings can be one of many tools that employers can use to ensure that worker safety is taken seriously within their organizations. Employers are encouraged to have all of their workers participate in training exercises that take place both on an off of job sites. General contractors are also encouraged to have subcontractors and other outside parties take part in any training sessions that their workers participate in.
Individuals who are hurt on construction sites or anywhere else while performing tasks for their employers may be entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits. This may be true even if an employer provides safety equipment to an injured victim or had other safety protocols in place. An attorney may help a worker obtain payment for medical bills related to a workplace injury as well as portion of wages lost while recovering from that injury.