A vacant construction site may appear on the surface to be a harmless, inactive piece of property. But the truth is, theft, trespassing, fires, vandalism or other losses are constant threats. Losses of this nature might include not only the value of damaged or stolen materials, but also the liability of an individual being injured on the property and the loss of time if a crucial piece of equipment is damaged or stolen.

Struck-by vehicle hazards are commonplace on most if not all construction sites. For example, picture this scenario: A contractor is operating a backhoe when an employee attempts to walk between the swinging superstructure of the backhoe and a concrete wall. As the employee approaches from the operator’s blind side, the backhoe’s superstructure swings in the same direction. This seemingly routine action ends with the employee being struck, resulting in life-threatening injuries.

The value of a comprehensive safety culture cannot be overstated when it comes to reducing workplace illnesses and injuries, and their associated costs. But creating such a culture is not an overnight process or “flavor of the month” program. Instead, it is a multi-year, top-management commitment that results in an organization with low accident rates, low turnover, low absenteeism and high productivity. This is a big-picture, long-term project.

Theft on a construction job site can be of particular concern as expensive materials, tools and machinery are often left in plain sight or are easily accessible to criminals. Discovering you have thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment and materials missing from a job site is, by itself, devastating.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the leading contributor to sick days is back pain, which costs businesses in both workers and productivity. In fact, a recent CDC study revealed back injuries cost employers $1,685 per employee every year. On a national level, this equates losses north of $225 billion annually.

Working near power lines is serious business for construction workers. Each year, workers are needlessly hurt on the job because they fail to use caution when digging in the vicinity of power lines. Electricity – whether above-ground or underground – is a powerful force, and using caution is the best way to avoid injury or death.

If you run a small business, you may be surprised to learn that the average cost of an employment-related lawsuit exceeds $270,000. More surprising is a recent study that revealed over half of all claims filed for employment-related liabilities are against employers with fewer than 50 employees. The same study also indicated that not even 2 percent of small businesses have employment practices liability (EPL) coverage.

When conducting road construction or repair work, it’s up to roadside workers to protect the public and themselves from dangerous accidents. Unfortunately, when a motorist is confused, distracted or driving recklessly, a roadside construction zone has the potential to become deadly.

Many contractors assume an environmental claim will be covered under their commercial general liability (CGL) policy. The unfortunate reality is that most CGLs contain pollution exclusions that leave contractors uninsured in the event of a pollution incident. Thankfully, contractors are increasingly turning to Contractors Pollution Liability (CPL) Insurance to ensure they have the right coverage in place to remain secure and profitable.

In today’s business environment, safety-related costs can be the difference between reporting a profit or a loss. In fact, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), workplaces that establish safety and health management systems can reduce their injury and illness costs by 20 to 40 percent. An effective safety program can also improve productivity and increase employee morale on the road.

With ample public information about fall hazards widely available, preventing residential construction workers from falling off roofs should be simple. Yet, injuries and deaths continue to mount. In fact, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Bureau of Labor Statistics, an average of 40 workers are killed each year as a result of falls from residential roofs—the number one cause of workplace deaths in construction.

As more and more American workers return to their jobs following the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, businesses need to rethink their daily operations to ensure the safety of their employees and the general public. This is no different for construction firms, where multiple contractors and tradespeople on a job site may be working in the same space at any one time.

Personal protective equipment, or “PPE,” is equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that can cause serious injuries. The typical construction worksite incorporates a wide range of activities including a number of potential safety hazards that require PPE every day. Simply stated, failing to use the prescribed equipment can put you in danger.

Construction sites are dangerous places to work. In fact, the injury rate for the construction trade is higher than the national average across all industries. Fortunately, when you have sufficient knowledge, preventing accidents is easier than you might think. Here are the four most common construction site hazards.

A recent survey indicated 53% of businesses in the United States reported being the victim of a cyber attack in 2019. And the forecast doesn’t look good for 2020. Cyber security experts predict an increase in cyber attacks in terms of both frequency and severity while warning that businesses of all sizes can be targeted.