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Not only is it the right thing to do, but enhancing safety on the construction site also makes sound business sense. A study by Dodge Data & Analytics found that project quality, staff retention, return on investment and ability to attract new staff were all positively impacted when there was a strong safety program in place.

Although increased safety awareness, enhanced procedures and new technology are improving safety on the construction site, there is still more to do. Of the 5,333 people who died from a work-related injury in the private sector in 2019, nearly 20 percent were employed in the construction industry, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

That doesn’t include the thousands of construction workers who are injured each year, resulting in missed days of work, project delays, damage to costly equipment and materials, and increased workers’ compensation premiums.

General safety tips for contractors

Click through the slideshow below to see some effective general contractor safety tips.

High-tech safety tips

Recent innovations in technology also have the potential to increase safety on the job site.

• Wearable wireless safety systems store workers’ training certifications and control access to site locations or work areas based on credentials. Some also act as a call button to summon help in an emergency.
• Personal cooling jackets and hard-hat fans create airflow around the body to vaporize sweat, reducing heat-related risks in hot climates.
• 4-D planning tools help show where equipment should be placed to maximize safety.
• Injury prediction models can be incorporated into an existing safety program. Look for those that use machine-learning predictive models.

When accidents happen

No amount of preventive measures can stop all accidents. That’s why it’s also essential to have comprehensive liability insurance, which can provide protection against lawsuits and other financial liabilities resulting from accidents or other mishaps.

Consider insurance such as Argo Pro’s Contractors PROtect^SM solution, which offers protection for claims arising from professional liability and pollution incidents.

Contractors PROtect also provides coverage for supplemental payments, including crisis management expenses, appearance at proceedings, disciplinary proceedings, subpoena assistance, and ADA, FHA and OSHA legal expense reimbursements.

About Argo Pro

Argo Pro, a member of Argo Group, is a leading provider of professional lines insurance products and services that can accommodate medium and large organizations on an admitted and non-admitted basis. Through a single operating platform and a robust network of appointed wholesale and retail distribution partners, Argo Pro offers a broad, customizable portfolio of errors and omissions and management liability insurance solutions. Argo Pro maintains offices in Chicago, New York City, San Francisco, Scottsdale (Arizona) and Hamilton Township (New Jersey).

Learn more about Contractors PROtect^SM.