September 14th Marks the Beginning of Construction Safety Week 2020
September 15, 2020Construction Safety Week, which began on Monday, September 14th, is an annual event in which the “construction industry, its clients and business partners take this opportunity to recommit to sending every worker home safe each day”1.
"We have a responsibility to the people who depend on us. If we can protect them by doing safety precautions, then we should do it at all costs,” Jonry E., a Project Information Manager for Flour, said on the Construction Safety Week website3.
Started in 2014 by the Construction Industry Safety Initiative (CISI) group and the Incident and Injury Free (IIF) CEO Forum, Construction Safety Week aims to “inspire everyone in the industry to be leaders in safety.”2
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), of the nearly 5,000 private industry fatalities in 2018, “1,008 or 21.1% were in construction — that is, one in five worker deaths last year were in construction" which exemplifies that safety is imperative.4
"Our projects, crews and companies are our family, and I recognize how addressing the mental and emotional needs of our family members creates a psychologically safe environment that also enhances our constant need for greater innovation, production and safety," said Kabri L., Project Superintendent at Hensel Phelps Construction Co.3.
Because there will always be workplaces and, subsequently, always workplace injuries, Capitol Tech has developed a variety of programs which specifically address workplace safety issues and incorporate them into other related programs.
The Bachelor of Science in Construction Safety focuses on teaching students necessary requirements to succeed in wide range of safety careers in construction-related fields. In this program, students acquire a strong foundation in construction, safety, risk management, and management skills so graduates with this degree are ready to identify and mitigate risks in the workplace.
The Master of Science (MS) in Construction Safety, offered in an online 8-week format, prepares students to create a safe work environment in construction industries no matter how high the hazard rate. Graduates of this program learn to enforce a safe environment while construction workers engage in many activities that may expose them to serious hazards, such as falling from rooftops, unguarded machinery, being struck by heavy construction equipment, electrocutions, silica dust, and asbestos. This comprehensive program is recognized as a Qualified Academic Program (QAP) by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP), meeting the qualified credential requirement for the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) certification.
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Occupational Health and Safety is designed to provide industry professionals with an opportunity to conduct the in-depth research and investigation needed to develop solutions to a wide variety of industry issues. Through this research-based, online doctorate, students engage in research and publishing without limitations inherent in traditional coursework models. While completing the program, students aid in the creation of new knowledge and ideas and become prepared for a variety of leadership roles in occupational health and safety, or for teaching roles in higher education.
In addition to these degrees which specifically address safety in the workplace, Capitol also incorporates safety and protective protocols in other programs under the umbrella of Construction, Facilities and Safety including Capitol Tech’s Online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Construction Management and Critical Infrastructure, Master of Science (MS) in Construction Cybersecurity, and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Emergency and Protective Services.
Click here for more information and to download Construction Safety Week resources.
References
1. Construction Safety Week. (2020). Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved from https://www.constructionsafetyweek.com/about-us/faq/.
2. Safety Management Group. (2017). What is Safety Week?. Retrieved from https://safetymanagementgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Safety-Week-Flyer-2017.pdf.
3. Construction Safety Week. (2020). Thank you for Sharing Your Stories. Retrieved from https://www.constructionsafetyweek.com/giveaway-post/.
4. OSHA. Commonly Used Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/data/commonstats.