For a commercial construction project to be successful, everyone has to be on the same page when it comes to safety. While OSHA standardized safety across the industry, not all commercial subcontractors maintain good construction safety records or prioritize safety above profit and results. Working with an unsafe subcontractor can put your project and reputation on the line.
At Unique Building Group (UBG), we’ve been able to form strong partnerships with top general contractors and earn a phenomenal reputation in the industry, largely due to our commitment to safety and excellent track record. Because we have experience integrating a safety-first mindset into our company culture, we know what it takes to be a safe subcontractor. We thought we’d share some of this knowledge to help general contractors better evaluate subcontractor safety when sourcing partners for commercial jobs.
Set High Safety Requirements
When sending out a request for bids, general contractors have the ability to set pre-defined eligibility criteria that subcontractors must meet in order to bid on a job. Some common safety evaluation metrics included in the pre-qualification are below:
- Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) – Injuries per 100 full-time employees
- Lost Time Incident Rate (LTIR) – The number of incidents that resulted in lost work days per 100 full-time employees
- Near-Miss Reporting Rate – The total number of near-miss incidents while on the job
- Safety Compliance Rate – The frequency in which workers comply with safety rules and procedures
These are a few of the common key performance indicators, but it’s important to develop your own criteria for measuring safety. When seeking bids, general contractors must set safety standards upfront by establishing minimum standards subcontractors must meet in order to qualify. Prior to awarding a job to a subcontractor, request copies of their violation and complaint records and a documented history of accidents to verify their track records.
Request A Copy Of The Subcontractor’s Safety Procedures
All subcontractors must document their internal construction safety procedures, and General Contractors sometimes ask for this documentation as part of the subcontractor evaluation process. When reviewing documents, pay close attention to safety education programs, training standards, and requirements for reporting incidents and construction safety concerns.
Form Strong Relationships With Safe Subcontractors
The more you get to know a subcontractor, the more you’ll get a sense of their internal culture and commitment to construction safety. Working on jobs with reliable partners is the best way to develop a sense of trust. It allows you to observe their day-to-day work and confirm that the teams practice what they preach.
Ask Around
Reputation is everything in the large-scale commercial construction industry, so you can probably find out a lot about a subcontractor by simply asking others in the industry. If you’re considering a specific subcontractor, ask other general contractors or clients who have worked with them in the past. Inquire about the subcontractor’s on-the-job safety procedures and standards as well as their overall commitment to safety. If a subcontractor has a reputation for unsafe practices, it won’t be long before your other industry partners are aware.
Safety at Unique Building Group
At UBG, our workers are our most important asset and our partnerships with general contractors keep us in business. Our commitment to safety is the key to protecting our workers, preserving our relationships, and keeping our business thriving. Here are a few of the ways UBG maintains an excellent safety record:
- Training – Our training protocols for all of our workers far exceed OSHA standards. From formal training programs to year-round seminars, we never stop learning and improving.
- Accountability – Safety is everyone’s job at UBG. If an incident occurs on the job, we’re all accountable and we’ll work together to do better and eliminate it from happening in the future.
- Technology – We constantly invest in new technology aimed at improving job site safety and performance.
- Communication – From daily safety meetings to streamlined incident and hazard reporting, strong communication practices are a large part of our success.
Safety is essential for maintaining profitability on a project, and partnering with safe subcontractors is one of the most important ways to deliver a project on time and on budget. Don’t put your project or reputation at risk — always prioritize subcontractors with excellent safety records.
If you’re looking for one of the industry’s most reputable and safest commercial contractors for your large-scale construction project, reach out to the team at UBG today.
