Workers often know when they’re taking risks on the job. In some cases, even if the workers don’t really grasp the risks, the supervisors who put them in those positions do understand the danger. But, if it’s clear that a worker could suffer a serious injury or pass away, why does this pressure exist? Doesn’t worker safety matter?
How deadlines drive employers and employees alike to take chances
It does matter, but the issue is that many jobs come with deadlines. Studies have found that simply having a deadline can “erode safety and promote risk-taking.” In other words, the clock becomes more important, and people start to take risks to keep up. This may work out in many cases without injury, but all it takes is one time for it all to go so very wrong.
Consider, for example, a roofing crew. They’re working on a roof, and the deadline is that very day. They need to get done and move on to the next job. As they finish up, a supervisor notices that an important task was not completed. It’s high up on the roof, and the worker who does the job should have a fall-arrest system. That safety device is no longer on the site, though. Waiting to get it the next day means missing the deadline, delaying the next job and losing money.
Is that supervisor going to tell someone to go up on the roof and risk it? Are they going to tell them to “be careful” but also neglect to give them the safety equipment they need? This type of thing can happen in a time crunch.
What to do when you’re injured at work
If you have been injured on the job at a construction site, you need to know all of the options you have for compensation. Serious injuries can be life-changing. Don’t be afraid to seek legal assistance.