Construction is a craft that demands careful attention to detail––not to mention full awareness of  safety and your surroundings. Still, sometimes even the best of intentions aren’t enough. Recently, we talked with Justin Drzemiecki, Risk Management Consultant at Builders Mutual, about how worker impairment impacts job-sites––and what managers can do to keep it under control. 

When thinking about impairment, you might think of substance abuse from drugs or alcohol. And while those certainly happen on the job-site (and present serious risks), the most common impairment concerns managers face are the result of something else entirely: severe fatigue or mental stress. 

The day in and day out nature of construction is extremely physically taxing. Workers are often expected to clock long hours, endure summer heat, and occasionally put in overtime. And whether you’re in construction or not, life can be stressful––with affordability worries, family pressures, and more affecting young employees. But when fatigue and stress get to be too much, it starts to compromise safety, putting both the workers who are impaired and everyone on site at risk. 

So, how can businesses protect themselves––and their employees––from the dangers of impairment?

Know the signs

First and foremost, it’s important for management to be familiar with the tell-tale signs of impairment. Keep an eye out for tremors, slowed reactions, loss of dexterity, or anything else that might signal your worker isn’t showing up as the best and most capable version of themself. 

Know (and observe) your workers

Remember: You know your workers best (or you should). Take note of any behaviors that seem out of the ordinary, such as an extroverted team member who’s zoned out, staring off into the distance. Even the small behavioral changes can be a red flag for impairment. 

Prioritize training

Talk about impairment during regular training. Educate workers on the signs, the risks, and the potential consequences. The more informed your team is, the more each worker can act as their “brother’s keeper,” helping you identify issues and ultimately avoid unnecessary accidents.

Manage mindfully

Sometimes, impairment is due to factors outside of the workplace––other times, it can be exacerbated by decisions or expectations on site. Set workers up for success by carefully managing any time spent in precarious situations. For example, don’t let one person spend the entire day on the roof when it’s hot out. Instead, rotate workers to minimize exposure for everyone. 

Get comfortable with hard conversations

Approaching a worker you suspect is impaired can feel intimidating––and you definitely don’t want to come off as accusatory. As concerns arise, address them urgently and directly, avoiding making big assumptions and instead just expressing what you’ve observed. 

Have policies in place 

While ideally you can avoid impairment incidents, they do happen. And it helps to be prepared to handle them privately, professionally, and in a timely manner. Putting thoughtful policies in place ahead of time allows you to know what to do should the time come, so you don’t have to answer questions on a whim involving when a worker can rejoin the job-site or what corrective action you should take. 

The moment impairment is evident on your job-site, taking action becomes critical. And even before it shows up, there are steps you can take toward prevention. Reach out to your Risk Management Consultant today to learn more about our training resources around this topic, and how Builders Mutual can help you avoid impairment––and handle any incidents with confidence.