We all have something to contribute when it comes to safety, and it’s important to demonstrate that every voice matters when forming a plan.  Diversity of thought creates more efficient and effective solutions and helps teams take ownership of preventing incidents together.  When our craft trust their team and use their voices to raise concerns or provide best practices to protect each other, it helps increase their and their team’s understanding of a task and the associated hazards.  Thank you for your participation in Construction Safety Week 2024! We know it’s a collaborative effort, and one that we all must participate in.

Having an effective safety culture is a critical component of our successes.  Communication is the key – trust is the cornerstone.  The schools we build, the stadiums we erect, the high rises and shopping malls; the playgrounds and hospitals and the infrastructure projects we work on; they’re each a part of our legacy.  They’re a sum of work greater than all of us, and for most of us, they are projects we can be proud of.  The rewarding “I built that” message we give to our friends and families is bound by the culture we establish and the safe work habits we engage in.  Culture exists in every corner of our lives, and our work culture echoes our own, both at and away from our project sites.

Embracing every voice creates an environment where every team member feels valued and heard.  When people feel their voice is heard, employee morale and engagement improve, teams are more productive, and a variety of perspectives are brought into the conversation.  In contrast, if people do not feel heard, they are substantially less likely to bring forth concerns, which then directly correlates to decreased morale and productivity.  We embrace every voice with open communication, active listening, communicating concerns, encouraging engagement, and conducting follow-ups.