In the construction industry, every company has the objective of making and saving money. It’s a critical component that will determine whether a company flourishes or falls by the wayside. However, there are certain things a construction office must come out of pocket for to ensure business as usual. Namely, workplace safety practices. This is why safety training in Calgary is so important -- every employer and employee wants to be safe while on the job.
With this in mind, you may be wondering:
- How to save more money without sacrificing the safety of your employees
- How to produce and maintain a resilient culture of safety while remaining attentive to profits
This is a delicate operation that must be thoroughly examined and assessed in order to make the best decision possible for not only the company’s margins, but for its employees. Countless money-saving alternatives lean toward long term objectives rather than short term economizing. Solutions in the short term are generally shallow and lack foresight. The result of this kind of thinking may meet your needs in the immediate future, but will often fail to solve the big picture issues.
This is why it’s important to blend both long and short term creative solutions for saving money in regards to safety practices. By doing so, you’ll put your company on the right footing, which will provide stability. This philosophy will permit your construction company to meet its goals as well as stay on budget all in a balanced and sustainable way.
Check out a few of these recommendations to begin building momentum:
Be observant of the cost of your safety solutions
You must be cognizant of where company money is being allocated, as well as the total price of all the services being purchased. Some of these things may include:
Maintenance: How much time (and as a result, money) is being spent on regular upkeep for the care of products
Teaching and Training: What amount of time is required to teach someone how to properly operate a particular machine or product
Utilization: What’s the timeframe for regular usage in regards to a product or machine (for instance, time to set up, operate, and tear down)
Workrate/output: What’s the impact of the solution on the employee’s effectiveness and productivity?
First Possibility - Affordable Harness and Anchor Point
One option is to buy the most affordable and cost-effective harness fall protection equipment. Think economical probing anchor-point: a simple harness and straightforward lanyard. These can be incredibly cost-effective ways to bolster safety while saving money in the process. And depending on how many of them you need, it may be as little as a few hundred dollars.
What’s the lifespan cost?:
- Installation of the anchor point
- Point of penetration must be maintained via regular upkeep
- The lanyard may be usable for that specific anchor point, but this will restrict its usability when it may be needed elsewhere
- That “low-priced” harness you purchased may have been certified by the proper governing bodies, but does it permit your employees to work effectively and productively? If the harness lacks the proper mobility, it can constrict employee movement, which can slow production
With this example, you may have “saved” money on the initial payment. However, here is a list of the prices that will accrue as a result of your “economical decision”:
- Frequent inquiries and inspections
- Employees must take their time
- Upkeep is needed
- Reusability restricted
- Increased chance of injury
- Proof of training
Additionally, this type of protective equipment cannot be perpetually used by employees. The majority of harness and anchor points have a lifetime that typically spans no more than 5 years. The obvious lesson here is that cheaper products will succumb to wear and tear much faster than those of high-quality production.
Second Possibility - High-Quality Harness With Anchor Point (Non Penetrating)
For this example, you pick a more high-end fall protection alternative. However, this time, you’ll buy an anchor point of the non-invasive variety (an anchor that doesn’t penetrate or puncture the ceiling for installation), a vertical lifeline (a versatile lifeline that’ll prevent you from touching the ceiling), as well as a tight full body harness.
What’s the lifespan cost?:
- The anchor point requires inspection from time to time, but not upkeep
- Provides mobility in regards to the distance that it can travel from the anchor point. This gives employees more autonomy and freedom when using this equipment in other situations while also enhancing safety
- Additional comfort and movability is attained, which leads to more fluid movements, and as a result, produces quicker work and more production
This example illustrates how more upfront costs can save your construction company much more money later on in the future. The overall costs of this route will be allocated to:
- Regular inspections
- Teaching and educating
- Reduced insurance payments
- Workers moving at an average workrate
You will have the same responsibilities as the more economical alternative, but you won’t use up as much of your time auditing proper equipment usage. Here are some of the savings in this predicament:
- Employees are more effective and efficient
- Enhanced adaptability on different jobs
- Lower risk of injury
- Reduction of insurance premiums
Furthermore, your workers will be much more satisfied with the safety precautions you’re trying to install in the company culture. For this reason, the safety courses in Calgary are still a great option, even with the additional measures put in place.
Third Possibility - Building a System of Guardrails
With the final possibility, you purchase the absolute best equipment for fall endangerment -- you opt for a guard railing system. With this alternative, you will be subject to the most expensive out of pocket and upfront costs, however, you will also have the smallest lifespan cost. This is also the safest alternative, moreover, regular maintenance, education, and employee obligation discontinue when you make use of the guardrail system.
What’s the lifespan cost?:
Certain upkeep expenses will need to be paid if you opt for a railing system of lesser quality. Furthermore, each year, the railing will need to be inspected to ensure it is still safe for everyday use. Here are some of the savings you will make over the railing’s lifespan:
- Employees can work quickly and efficiently without giving their safety so much as a second thought
- By purchasing a high-end railing, you won’t have to think about administration, teaching, or maintenance
- Employees can rest easy once they no longer have to think about the dangers associated with falls
Construction Workplace Safety Practices: Tying it All Together
Once you have properly analyzed the benefits of allocating your funds to the right places, it becomes easier and more intuitive to begin moving in that direction. At the end of the day; time, effort, and money must all be expended in order to ensure workplace safety practices. But by allocating those resources to the right solutions up front, said resources will be reserved and saved over the long run.