Over the last few years, we’ve seen a big shift in the industry: safety has become a real priority for everyone involved. Instead of simply meeting the basic requirements of OSHA or TOSHA, companies are stepping up and being proactive about safety. From training programs to new technologies, everyone is looking for ways to keep their teams safe and get the job done right.
A Culture of Safety at Crain Construction
At Crain Construction, employee well-being is a core value embedded in everything we do. We’ve built a reputation for being a safety-conscious company, but we also know there’s always more to learn.
We’re constantly asking ourselves how we can level up what we’re doing while maintaining the close-knit, supportive culture that defines Crain. One key aspect of our safety philosophy is openness to feedback from every level of the organization. Safety isn’t just the responsibility of management; it’s a team effort that requires everyone to pitch in, from the project manager to the newest crew member.
To ensure our safety practices are top-notch, we’ve partnered with Core Safety Group, a third-party consulting firm, to help us refine our protocols, conduct safety inspections, and provide ongoing training. Alec Ewers, Safety Manager at Core Safety Group, has been instrumental in helping Crain stay ahead of industry safety trends, ensuring our practices are not only compliant but truly effective.
Crain’s Approach to Construction Safety
1. Bilingual Project Site Orientation
One of the recent innovations we’ve implemented is a new Bilingual Project Site Orientation program. This initiative leverages technology to create a streamlined and effective orientation system for all employees and subcontractors as they arrive on-site. Our orientation provides a first look at how Crain operates, our approach to safety, and the standards we expect everyone to follow.
What sets this orientation apart is its accessibility—it’s conducted in both English and Spanish to ensure that all workers fully understand the safety protocols. The goal is to make it easy for everyone to engage with the material, ask questions, and feel confident in their understanding of safety expectations before setting foot on the job site. This has been a game-changer in ensuring clear communication and accountability.
2. Tracking Trends with Power BI
Staying ahead in safety means knowing where we’re excelling and where we can improve. One of the ways Crain does this is by tracking inspection data through Power BI. This software tool allows us to gather and analyze data from our safety inspections, giving us a clear picture of performance across all of our job sites. By analyzing trends and patterns, we can identify areas that may require additional attention and implement improvements proactively.
With Power BI, we’re able to pinpoint specific safety issues before they become larger problems. It’s not just about reacting to incidents; it’s about staying ahead of them through data-driven insights. Our approach has allowed us to continually enhance our safety protocols to create safer job sites.
3. Documentation and Proof with ProCore
At Crain, we believe in doing the right thing. But we want to take it a step further by proving our commitment through consistent documentation. We utilize tools like ProCore to ensure every safety action is documented and uniform across all job sites. This provides consistency and clarity for all team members and helps us stay accountable to the high standards we’ve set.
Recently, we revamped our entire safety manual, rebuilding it to be comprehensive and user-friendly. It’s designed to include everything an employee needs to know about safety protocols. We also review and update this manual quarterly so that our practices evolve alongside industry standards and insights gained from the field.
Safety is Achievable Every Day
At Crain Construction, we believe safety is an achievable goal every day we come to work. It’s not just a mandate from management; it’s a commitment made by every employee on every job site. Through our focus on learning, our use of innovative tools like Power BI and ProCore, and the constant support of our partners like Core Safety Group, we ensure that safety remains at the forefront of every project.
We’re proud of the steps we’ve taken to modernize our safety practices, but we know there’s always room to grow. By continually investing in training, technology, and team collaboration, Crain Construction is dedicated to doing the best work possible to make sure that every worker goes home safely at the end of the day.
