How to Find a Contractor with a Good Safety Culture
The best way for an owner to become involved in the process and locate contractors with good safety programs is to implement a pre-qualification or screening process. This is accomplished by looking at the contractor's past safety history (experience modification rate). Review the following for the past 3 years: OSHA Recordable Frequency Rates, Lost Work Day Case Rate, and the Lost Work Day Rate. Also be sure to review the contractor's current safety history and obtain references from past clients. Further, there are many other ways that an owner can determine the contractor's ability to control safety. For example, ask questions that deal with the specific nature of the work that is planned, the capacity of the contractor to do the work, and experience with the type of work being performed. Many companies will request the contractor's organizational chart to see that the necessary leadership structure is there to support an active safety culture.