agchouston.org Spring 2025 Cornerstone 21 A CRUCIAL CONSIDERATION for every construction job- site’s management team is safety, as their decisions can directly impact the health of workers as well as that of the broader organization. However, what “workplace safety” encompasses has evolved significantly over the years, and the ones responsible for ensuring all are cared for are finding that their tasks have expanded exponentially. A Diversity of Needs AGC Houston’s senior director of safety services, Kim Mason, has seen her areas of responsibility grow and evolve over the years. “Safety on the job is now a hybrid,” she explained. “Of course, there’s the safety component, but it’s so many other areas now, too. You’re the safety person as well as part HR and part legal. It’s multi-faceted.” While workers’ mental health has not historically been considered part of workplace safety in general, Mason now regularly spends time helping jobsite managers find resources for those who are struggling. Additionally, there are many legal areas that safety officers must understand, such as the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990. “If I have a worker who is deaf, or if I have a worker who has a seizure dog, I need to be able to keep them safe on the jobsite,” said Mason of the intricacies required to ensure all her workers’ needs are both accounted for and accommo- dated for. “It’s a much broader, more mixed arena that now falls under safety as compared to 10 years ago.” Ensuring Acceptance of New Safety Standards Ensuring workplace safety in the modern construction era is a complex challenge with countless components, and its implications extend far beyond the indi- vidual workers as safety is also inherently tied to a company’s finances. Roger Davis, a multi-line manufac- turing representative with Lawless Sales Group, says the general contractors (GCs) and workers he regularly inter- acts with embrace the importance of safety by integrating best practices into their worksite cultures. However, it can sometimes be difficult to gain employee acceptance of changes, as some may think of safety requirements as tedious or as impediments to their work. “Safety impacts not only GCs, but everybody in that line,” said Davis. “The hardest part is getting the workers to understand that this is the way it’s going to be. Fighting it isn’t going to do you, or them, any good. When they do things right the first time, they can get the work done in the appropriate amount of time and stay safe.” To help bring everyone on board and accept new safety practices that may initially be met with resistance, Davis stresses the importance of reiterating that safety precautions have been put in place to protect each worker. And, that by protecting the workers, the safety protocols and procedures are also pro- tecting the workers’ families as well as their financial wellbeing. “This is not done for the company’s safety, but for that individual’s safety. It’s that acceptance at the worker level that makes such a big difference,” he explained. “Safety standards ensure they can go home after work to their family and loved ones. Nobody wants to go to the hospital. Nobody wants to have an injury.” And, contrary to the belief that some may hold, when safety becomes part of the work site culture, it doesn’t add time to the job. “It doesn’t take any longer to get the job done when you do it safe and right, versus trying to spend the time getting around the system,” said Davis. “Circumventing safety is not only dangerous, but it usually ends up taking longer!” The Business Benefits of a Safety Culture In addition to protecting workers, many business benefits stem from prioritizing a safe jobsite. One important factor to consider is the competitive job market, and companies who aren’t able to ensure workers’ safety as a top priority may find themselves short-staffed or experiencing high levels of turnover — both of which can be quite costly. Davis explained, “When you look at today’s work environment, it’s so hard to get qualified employees that will show up for work and get their work done. They want to be able to show up for work, get their work done safely and go home.” By alleviating any concerns regarding workplace safety, businesses can elimi- nate a potentially prohibitive variable in the equation when it comes to staffing. Safety is also an important factor in securing new business. As companies and potential clients consider which con- struction partners to work with, they will often evaluate safety ratings. “Your com- pany’s safety rating and ranking affects not only your employees on a personal level, but it also affects your ability to ‘Workplace safety’ has expanded significantly over the years to include many non-traditional areas including mental health.
