Page 29 - OHS, FebruaryMarch 2023

Construction Safety in the Atypical Wake of Worker Turnover Now is a great time to invest in safety training. Here’s why. BY RAY PREST Even at the best of times, managing safety concerns in the wake of the construction industry’s turbulent employee turnover patterns is a challenge. And right now is hardly the best of times. From 2012 to 2021, the construction industry experienced a monthly separation rate—the percentage of employees who were fired, quit or otherwise stopped working every month—of about 5 percent. That’s high compared to many other sectors, but industry veterans know that it’s typical for a sector noted for its sizeable employment churn, and it’s just one more unavoidable challenge of working in construction. And then, all of a sudden, in the first ten months of 2022, the monthly separation rate dropped by a quarter, moving down to 3.75 percent. On the surface, it looks like this should be a cause for celebration, but it actually signals a major shift in employer/worker dynamics in the construction industry. And it’s a sign of potential safety troubles ahead. In the past, the majority of separations came from workers getting fired. So while turnover was high, it was driven by employers.Now,foreveryemployeewhois let go, two more quit. The overall separation rate is much lower, but the number of workers who are quitting is way up. As any hiring manager will tell you, it always seems to be the best employees who leave. Low unemployment rates are likely contributing to the high levels of employee mobility. The latest figures available (as of this writing) shows the U.S. unemployed rate at 3.7 percent. In the last 50 years, the only time the national unemployment rate has been lower was in the handful of months leading up to the pandemic. With a potential recession looming, these numbers may return to normal in the coming years. But the current economic cycle still presents several pressing issues and demonstrates the challenges that can arise for the industry in any atypical economic period. Construction companies are having a much harder time replenishing their workforce. Because the pool of qualified laborers is a lot smaller, workers can be a lot choosier about where they go. This industry-wide challenge has quickly become a major safety headache. If you work in construction and you have any sort of safety responsibilities, then likely, you’ve already felt the effects of this employment trend. Many of your best workers, the ones who are skilled and attentive to safety measures, have packed up their toolboxes and left for another job. They’ve been replaced with folks who seem to have never heard of the concept of workplace safety, or departed workers haven’t been replaced at all, leaving your team stretched thin. Either way, there are substantial safety issues at play. More than ever, job vacancies are filled with folks who are new to the construction industry or to the type of workthatyourcompanydoes.Numerous studies have shown that a lack of experience is correlated with a heightened risk of injuries and other incidents. It also increases the number and severity of human factors in the workplace, as the loss of experienced employees can affect team cohesion and communication, leading to moreambiguityandconfusion.Ifworkers haven’t been replaced, then your crew is likely suffering from fatigue and frustration as they’re pushed to do the same amount of work with fewer people. On top of all it, a high turnover rate can have a negative impact on workplace culture. There’s no reason to expect this trend to abate, so it’s time to find a way to get the most out of the workers who have remained at your company. With layoff rates in 2022 having declined 54 percent from their 2012 to 19 levels, most employers are much more hesitant to get rid of workers who, in the past, might have been let go. It also means doing what you can to help retain the company’s best employees because they have more job options than even before— andtheyknowit. The silver lining is that there’s never been a better time for construction companies to invest in safety training. The knock against larger training initiatives CONSTRUCTION SAFETY www.ohsonline.com FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023 | Occupational Health & Safety 29