Problem to be addressed: Measuring safety and health performance in the workplace has been a challenge, particularly in the construction industry (NAICS 23) which consists of large numbers of mostly small employers where numerous parties are responsible for managing health and safety risks. These, and other, unique characteristics of the construction industry have created barriers to establishing an ongoing, systematic, and integrated collection of potentially useful information on the measurement and assessment of health and safety performance. The primary purpose of measuring health and safety performance is to provide information on the progress and current status of the strategies, processes and activities used to control risks to health and safety. Measuring safety and health performance helps to: 1) define goals in operational terms; 2) support continuous improvement; and 3) demonstrate the value of health and safety programs in business terms. Unfortunately, little apparent progress has been made in the last decade in developing a data system that supports the measurement of health and safety performance and the attainment of health and safety goals in the U.S. construction industry.
Impact of Research:
This information will help aid the construction industry in using leading indicators for monitoring trends in safety and health performance over time and for benchmarking improvements in preventing and reducing injuries and illnesses. Criteria will also be used to evaluate the feasibility and practicality of using a metrics rating tool. Insurance companies may also find this data valuable in evaluating construction firms’ workers’ compensation experience. Regulatory agencies such as the OSHA consultation program have expressed interest in the results for tracking, safety and health programs at the state and company level.
