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Every construction site contains inherent dangers that require constant vigilance and monitoring to prevent accidental injury and ensure job safety for all workers on site. Accidents significantly
impact deadlines, budgets, insurance costs and the overall success of your project. Mitigating these risks is especially important on heavy civil construction sites where demolition is required, making
it imperative for a contractor to carefully vet subcontractors before allowing them on the jobsite.
Follow these 5 tips to determine a subcontractor's qualifications prior to hire:
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Check out their stats -- There are several gauges that measure a subcontractor's safety performance. Ask potential subs for these telltale records to find the right company for your project:
- EMR (Experience Modification Rate) is a number used by insurance companies to gauge both past cost of injuries and future chance of risk. The lower your subcontractor's rating is
below the industry average of 1.0, the better their safety performance. For more information on how EMR is calculated,
click here.
- TRIR (Total Recordable Incidence Rate) is a standardized method of comparison that allows you to gauge each contractor's occupational health and safety records against competitors.
Again, a lower TRIR is better.
- OSHA 300 logs provide a history of recordable accidents and incidents that may reveal trends such as improper training, inappropriate tools or poor job oversight. Be sure to check
records for at least the past 3 years to get a broader view of a subcontractor's safety history.
- OSHA citation records provide an illuminating picture of a subcontractor's compliance. The U.S. Department of Labor maintains thorough, easily searchable records of every contractor's
inspections and safety violations, available online.
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Ask about training procedures and certifications -- Improper use of tools and incorrect performance of specialized processes and techniques present dangerous risks to workers and their
surroundings. Asking these key questions up front will help you avoid potentially dangerous subs:
- Does the subcontractor formally train new hires in the company's means and methods?
- Does the subcontractor have an in-house safety training program?
- Does the subcontractor offer ongoing "toolbox talks" to keep staff continually aware and informed?
- Is the subcontractor's labor force given OSHA-approved construction training?
- Does the subcontractor provide workers with any site-specific training and background checks your unique job may require?
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Review management and oversight procedures -- Jobsite safety begins at the top. Reviewing each subcontractor's management and oversight structure is an essential step in determining their
level of commitment to safety. The following questions should be asked of every potential subcontractor:
- Is there a specific person responsible for managing the entire company's safety performance? Who is it? What is his/her level of authority?
- Does the subcontractor provide pre-job worksite assessments and job-specific safety plans?
- Are regular jobsite safety audits conducted?
- Does the company have an alcohol and drug-free workplace policy?
- How are infractions for non-compliance with safety policies dealt with? Are employees rewarded for excellence?
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Make sure your subcontractor has a formal accident investigation process -- No subcontractor is 100% perfect and accidents can occur on even the safest jobsites. However, responsible companies
are committed to learning from their mistakes to ensure they don't repeat them. A formalized investigation process is an important first step in patching gaps and improving performance.
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Perform your own safety audits -- Regular safety audits help ensure all subcontractors are in compliance with your safety guidelines and procedures.
About Cutting Technologies, Inc.
As the nation’s leading selective demolition contractor for nearly three decades, Cutting Technologies (CTI) has seen and done it all. We unite every available resource into a single, highly coordinated operation that promises successful completion of your project while minimizing the impact on day-to-day operations.
To learn more about our services, click here. or call 856-456-2255 to schedule a consultation.
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