We welcome Doug Dicke, Southern Region Manager for Job Site Safety, Ltd., to the Think Tank this week. Job Site Safety, Ltd. is a safety contractor; Doug joins us today to talk about what to look for in a safety company – whether you need a rescue team or a complete safety program and personnel – to ensure that adding third party safety services means adding vaue to your operations.

Whether you’re in the construction industry or general industry, Workplace Safety has evolved into one of the most important components of your company’s operations. “Safety” can be a tremendous corporate resource, an asset, and a huge contributor to the bottom line. Alternatively, “safety” can be a major problem, a liability, and, in turn, can have serious negative impact on the bottom line. Hopefully you’ve made a commitment to safety as a priority in your organization. We believe that ever-changing safety regulations, personnel turnover, scheduled turnaround projects and shutdowns make it essential for every company, regardless of size, project scope, or internal safety capacity, to have a relationship with a contract safety company.

A contract safety company can be your source for all on-site safety needs, a resource for guidance and implementation support for internal safety programs, or a valuable supplement to your corporate safety operations. Whatever role a contract safety company might play in your organization, it’s vital that you select a third party safety provider that is as committed to safety as you are, and has the resources and commitment to contribute to your people, your projects and your bottom line. What should you look for?

The following five characteristics offer some pretty clear signals about what a safety company values and how it operates:

Leadership

When you talk with the safety company, when you see its team members at work, do you see leaders? Leadership is a key component of any organization, and your safety company is no exception. Great leadership means the company is thriving – with a focus on constant improvement, personnel development and communication.  When you’re considering a safety contractor, the company’s leadership culture should be obvious to you. Do you feel confident in the leadership?

Qualifications

Your safety contractor must be qualified on two levels – the on-paper, regulated, here-are-our-stats kind of qualification, and the less tangible but equally important fitting-i- wit- your-company qualification. If you cannot fully vet a safety contractor, you will not be adding value to your operations. Established qualification requirements, and proper documentation from your safety provider are vital. Once all the tangible/quantifiable requirements are met, you must consider fit. Can the safety company contribute to and improve your company’s safety culture? Does the safety company have the depth of experience needed for your projects? Does the team have diverse experience and capabilities? For example, do you need a professional who is highly qualified in terms of construction projects, or someone capable of handling ergonomic issues in a manufacturing facility?

Certifications

In addition to having the right statistics and evidence of experience, your safety contractor must have the appropriate education/training and certifications for your industry. Continuing education is a must in the safety industry; your safety company should be committed to training and professional development for all team members, and should be able to provide documentation to support that commitment. Appropriate training and documentation help address potential liability issues, and help you identify a safety contractor’s particular strengths, specialties, and the company’s investment in continuing education.

Reputation

Sometimes the best source for a safety contractor, or any other service, is a good referral. Finding the right safety company takes more than a web search, and it’s important to realize that there is a significant difference between a contract safety company and a staffing company. A staffing company provides people to fill positions. A contract safety company should be equipped to provide well trained, highly qualified safety professionals who are assets to your project teams – not just warm bodies to report to a job site. Your safety company should have a stellar reputation, and should always be concerned about its impact on customers’ projects. Visit websites, but also ask many questions.

Aggressiveness

How can you tell a good safety contractor from a great one? Check out the company’s overall behavior in terms of handling health and safety issues internally and in the context of customer operations. The safety contractor’s team should promote and practice proactive safety. Are the team members trained and empowered to identify problems and take corrective action? Is there a focus on aggressive prevention? What internal programs does the contractor have in place around safety and safety performance?  Is the contractor prepared to implement safety performance initiatives with or for your team? A great safety company will offer a proactive, aggressive approach to safety that will actively improve your operations.

A safety contractor can be a terrific asset to your organization, whether you need full time, full team safety services or occasional safety support. It’s important to know what to look for in a safety company, and to take the time to evaluate potential providers. Safety can be an asset or a drain on your resources. It can be a positive aspect of your daily operations or it can be an ongoing issue that damages your reputation and your profitability. The choice is yours; when you are seeking help from a safety contractor, choose wisely!

For more information about safety services, visit Job Site Safety, Ltd.

For more information about engineering, fabrication and construction for field erected welded steel tanks, and our excellent safety record, visit us at FisherTank.com.

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