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5 Construction and Contractor Risks 

Software is becoming more popular among risk managers as a tool to help them manage their risks. This is especially true for construction companies, which face more risks than any other. 

Employee injuries, accidents on the job, car crashes, property damage and other risks are just a few of the many. Risk managers who are successful must be aware of all risks and be able quickly to address them. 

This blog post will address the construction industry, and the risks that general contractors face. This is by no way an exhaustive list. However, here are key risks and how to avoid them for those working in the construction sector. 

5 Construction and Contractor Dangers 

1. Employee injury 

The greatest and most obvious risk to the construction industry is injury to employees. Employees face risks such as slips, falls and crushing. Unsafe use of heavy machinery may result in death or serious injury. 

Some risk management techniques that can help reduce these risks include: 

  • Instruction and training in safety. 
  • Requirements for proper protection gear and clothing 
  • Safety inspections at work are done regularly. 
  • Specific certifications are required for certain job positions. 
  • Working alone and in cramped spaces 
  • Safety training and culture 

2. High quality and product liability 

Your company may be responsible for subcontractors’ performance. This goes beyond the quality work itself, and the quality construction materials. 

These are key points to keep in mind: 

  • Performance-related complaints and lawsuits filed by the company or subcontractors during the past five years. 
  • A good building plan will detail the building codes and zoning compliance laws as well as the public health- and safety conditions. 
  • Subcontractor loss histories. 
  • All suppliers and subcontractors should have insurance certificates. 
  • Reputation of suppliers and relationships with them, particularly in relation to quality materials. 
  • Qualifications, experience, and training of employees. 
  • The length of employees’ shifts and the frequency of overtime are important factors in determining whether or not work fatigue is a problem. This can lead to low performance. 

3. Third-party injury 

Contractors must take preventative measures to avoid third-party injuries. 

You might want to consider these risk mitigation strategies: 

  • It is a good idea to make it clear that delivery personnel and visitors must all be accompanied by an escort upon entering the jobsite. This policy should be known by all employees and must be strictly enforced. 
  • Safety is discussed with visitors by escorts. They also require that visitors wear hard hats. 
  • Inspect sites daily. Check for potential hazards and tidy up the area. 
  • Place warning signs around the jobsite and ask workers to report any sign that is missing. 
  • You must install gates around the job site’s perimeter. All breaches of the perimeter must be reported by employees to the supervisor. 

4. Property risks 

Contractors’ property can be mobile. It could be used by multiple companies, rented for long periods of duration, or transported often. Contractors need to have insurance coverage in case of damage or theft. 

Here are of the issues that need to be addressed. 

  • Exposure will be increased by high-flammable materials, such as fuel and welding cylinders, wood, or sawdust. Are there any other flammable compounds? Are explosives present on-site? What are the best ways to keep explosives safe on-site? 
  • How do you preserve important papers and records? What electronic system is used? Important papers should not be left on-site. 
  • Smoking policies must be enforced, with the exception for areas that have fire-resistant containers. 
  • It is important to have alarms and fire extinguishers on every jobsite. 
  • Is lighting, heating, and wiring properly maintained? 

5. Auto and contractor equipment liability 

Vehicle and equipment accidents include on-site and off-site collisions, the use of nonowner vehicles and frequent material and equipment delivery, as well as travel to unfamiliar locations. 

For understanding your risks, there are several pieces of information you should gather: 

  • What are the types and ages of the vehicles? 
  • Can workers be expected to use their own vehicle to transport staff, materials, and equipment from work? This could lead to non-owned vehicle liability. 
  • Are there other vehicles that are owned or leased by the owner? 
  • Are any other larger vehicles equipped? 
  • Is the area covered by equipment dealers or suppliers? 
  • How much training are drivers required before they can operate company vehicles. Are special driving licenses necessary? 

Although these five risks for contractors do not cover all risks in the construction industry they can be used as a guideline. Asking the right probative queries will help you accurately assess your risk. 

It is crucial to ensure you keep track and maintain your certificates of insurance. It is important to be able to track all your insurance certificates in one place.