NSC Survey: 58 Percent of Construction Workers Say Safety Takes Back Seat to Productivity
The council reminds workers to put an emphasis on safety during Workers' Memorial Day.
According to a National Safety Council survey, 58 percent of construction workers in America feel that safety takes a back seat to productivity and completing job tasks. Supporting this finding is the sobering fact that the construction industry has the most workplace fatalities each year in the United States.
The results of the survey have been released in conjunction with Workers' Memorial Day on April 28. (The day is marked by OSHA and many organizations around the world; April 28 is the date OSHA was established in 1971.)
Other findings include: 51 percent say management does only the minimum required by law to keep employees safe, 47 percent say employees are afraid to report safety issues, and 36 percent of employees feel their employers prioritize productivity over safety.
"On Workers' Memorial Day, we pause to remember those that have been lost in completely preventable incidents," said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. "Sadly, the results of our survey indicate that many workers still worry about whether they will make it home safely tonight. We call on all employers to renew their commitment to keep everyone safe, on every job, each and every day."