Strong Voices and Safe Choices in Construction Safety

At HITT, safety is our top priority in every element of our work and is the measure of a successful project above all else. We know establishing a supportive culture is essential to creating a safe work environment, which is why this year’s Construction Safety Week theme of “Strong Voices, Safe Choices” particularly resonated with us.

Throughout Construction Safety Week, our on-site teams held more than 200 safety stand downs on HITT jobsites nationwide. These intentional pauses in building ensure that we take a moment to reflect and keep safety at the forefront of our minds every day. This year’s on-site all-hands meetings featured demonstrations for a variety of important safety topics and common issues.

One of our teams in New York City working on a confidential office project gathered to discuss the importance of fall protection and proper harnessing. While across the country in Los Angeles, our team covered safety topics like proper ladder usage and fire extinguisher best practices. Our team working on a QTS data center project near Manassas, Virginia even set up a temporary structure and hoisted a team member up to demonstrate crucial confined space rescue best practices.

Outside of Safety Week, our teams constantly find creative ways to encourage on-site teams to speak up when they observe unsafe practices. Every on-site team member is responsible for making safety observations, noting coachable moments, and recording teammate “kudos” for the use of safe work practices. These recorded observations allow us to take inventory of what’s going on at the jobsite level and keep safety at the forefront. Last year, our teams recorded hundreds of thousands of kudos, safety observations, and coachable moments, and as a result, we saw a decline in recordable incidents.

Recently, our mission critical technology team decided to get a friendly competition going with their observations. Set up like a basketball tournament bracket, team members across 24 projects nationwide competed for who could record the most observations and coachable moments. By the end of the five-week competition, teams recorded more than 21,500 moments combined!

These are just a few examples of the way we prioritize safety. However, HITT’s safety culture goes beyond policies and procedures. We’re defining the new standard in safety to ensure everyone in our workplace can thrive. Our holistic approach to safety includes fostering what we call our Culture of Care.

Vice President of Safety Mark Dumas, CHST shared, “By prioritizing mental health and seeking help when needed, we can better manage our emotions and maintain a clear and focused mind, which is essential for ensuring our safety and the safety of those around us.”

We’re proud of our team members and subcontractor partners for renewing their commitment each year to prioritizing safety on every construction site across the country. Together, we are building a stronger, safer industry.

To learn more about HITT’s commitment to safety, visit www.hitt.com/safety