It is essential that all construction be delivered safely without incident—always, now and in the future. Our country, its citizens and our workforce depend on this every day, on every project and with every task—no exceptions.
The COVID-19 pandemic has hardened our industry’s commitment to world-class safety. We will get through this, but when it is over, we must not fall back into old habits. Now is the time for a paradigm shift that will forever alter expectations in our industry.
In addition to hygienic requirements at jobsites, our safety systems must address total human health—the need for our safety management systems to address not only physical threats, but also any mental, social and spiritual threats.
As we recover economically and emotionally, now is a profound opportunity to refocus on the employee experience at work. Construction leaders should reengage in the onboarding and orientation process to ensure everyone is aligned culturally. Project safety planning and employee education must elevate the belief that all incidents are preventable regardless of the conditions. Every task must be delivered to the highest level of quality, productively, without incident, and with total human health in mind.
This unique issue of the magazine addresses new pain points for the national economy in “From All Systems Go to a Deep Recession in One Month,” as well as the pain points for our construction workforce. A series of articles examine the industry’s increased risks of opioid addiction, suicide and low morale. These articles offer personal experiences and resources that construction employers should consider in protecting workers’ wellbeing, on and off the clock.
The organizations that support a thriving workplace in the future will the ones that prepare for the long-term challenges of a remote workforce—see the Legal column—and adopt tools such as leadership coaching—see the Business Development column.
Also, be sure to read the Community Outreach and Viewpoints Q&A columns for some firsthand contractor perspectives on addressing COVID-19 on the jobsite while helping out one’s neighbors and colleagues.
