How Can My Construction Company Save Money on Its Construction Workplace Safety Practices?

With the above statistics pertaining to the 2025 economy at an all-time high, it’s imperative that construction companies save some money. However, from the safety standpoint, one has to question:

And how do you save money without affecting the safety of your employees?

How do you create and a maintain safety culture when your focus is on the profit, how to say no in good conscience.

This precarious balancing act confronts every safety expert even in a good economy. Most of the money-saving strategies have been targeted towards your long-term objectives and not just short lazy savings. If you have to resort to short-term fixes, then you will save yourself this month, however, you could have the same or similar issues next month or the years hereafter.

The best combination of the short and long terms, in a budget-friendly way, can help put you on the right course today and meet your ultimate goals.

These tips should help you on your way:

• Total cost of ownership for your safety solution ·

In addition to the total price, you must take into account following costs:

• Maintenance: How much time does this product require from me?
• Training: How long does it take to train an individual in the safe use of this product?
• Utilization: how much time does it take a user to consume this product (i.e. install and dismantle)?
• Productivity: How the solution is applied, as you want your workers to keep working, it should not consume too much time.

Construction Workplace Safety Cost Example

This example is looking at 3 different scenarios, with 3 variances in upfront costs but the underlying “lifetime cost” to use these solutions.

Method #1 – Low-Cost Harness and Anchor Point

Here, you are buying the cheapest answer to a fall-protection hazard, which means typically a low-cost piercing anchor point, basic harness and rudimentary lanyard. Then your company might resolve or fix the issue for only a couple hundred dollars based on your business” circumstances.

So, what exactly is the “lifetime cost”?

Install the piercing anchor point first.

All the penetration points must be reinforced to prevent leaks so that follow-up work of company personnel to preserve the integrity of the piercing anchor point.

When it comes to that anchor, then yes, the lanyard you bought will work just fine — but it is nothing more than a fixed-length leash for that position AND you are handcuffing your potential future uses by having to acquire something else in another location later.

And lastly, so you bought that “cheap” harness and it is OSHA or ANSI certified, does it enable the worker to move? This makes the worker clumsy in some cases, restricted in movement and wearing the harness too loose that caused serious accidents which are actually preventable.

So, ultimately you are in a position to save money on the first purchase and will have only certain costs additionally as given below:

• It should be inspected daily
• Workers must work slowly

• Maintenance needed
• Not very reusable
• Developing new skills and learning through training and development
• The highest risk of injury
• High Rates of Insurance
• Maintenance of Logbooks
• Training documentation
• Verified the application ·

Lastly, company workers cant use the harness and anchor point safety gear forever; most of them last for no more than 5 years or until they can pass a daily inspection.

Lower cost products have a lower lifespan compared to higher quality one.

Method # 2 Premium Harness with Non-Penetrating Anchor Point

You are opting for a higher cost fall prevention. This time; you will need a reusable anchorage (one that does not penetrate the roof, steel or concrete and is recyclable), an adjustable lifeline anchored to your harness for free movement at working height (rope-grab lifeline) and a snug mid-level harness.

Now this one may only be a little more to substantially more expensive, depending on your circumstances.

What presents the total “lifetime cost” of this solution?

The small area of your anchor point you will inspect rather than rehab which is a win-win.

This solution will greatly benefit workers with moves that need be made as far away from the anchor point. This safety equipment will allow employees to use it in many different ways, deepening their exposure to the fall hazard, and tying their hands so they cannot fall.

The harness provides additional comfort and flexibility. As a result the rope hammock will be used on an employee who moves faster and with extensive range of motion, will snug the harness closer (for safety), and increase worker compliance.

At the end, although you have made an initial high investment; however, we have cut down the total lifetime costs. The overall expenses of that solution are as follows:

• Inspections daily
• Instruction
• Low Insurance Rates
• employees should be able to work in slow mode

This means that youll be responsible for managing things just as much as the cheaper option, but you might spend less time willing proper equipment use and staff todo so.

In this scenario the savings would be:

• Workers will produce more output
• Greater ability to adapt across other/future sites
• Reducing the risk of injury
• Insurance premium decreased ·

Your employees are also going to be more content in developing an interest in the safety culture you are trying to develop.

Method #3 Installing a Passive Guardrail System

You buy the best solution for a fall hazard in which everyone wins. This time you opt for a railing system, maybe even non-penetrating. The prices are likely to be the highest in out-of-pocket form, but lowest throughout life with this option.

It keeps you safe in the easiest, simplest manner possible and thus — for most cases — this safety solution is actually the safest. Passive guardrail systems also shut down daily inspections, training and worker involvement. As a result, workers will not incur the risk of falling.

Now let us see the price vs savings for this option

Lifetime Costs:

If your buy an hobby railing, which isn’t galvanized or penetrates the floor, then you may in all likelihood have some protection expenses. You also have to check the railing once each year, no matter which type of railing that you pick.

Lifetime Savings:

Here, workers can work as fast as they possibly can, without any restraints.

When you purchase a quality railing, management, training and maintenance are approaching words.

It’s the most affordable in terms of insurance prices, and you have less risk of injury.

Your employees will thank you for being so considerate of their safety and assuring them they no longer have to fear falling.

Final Thoughts

The benefits of even high-cost solutions become clear when you perform a cost-benefit analysis. While you will definitely need to put a bit of effort, time and consideration into your safety practices the alternative might end up costing you in the long run, literally.