Frequently Asked Questions

Feared Question #4

“I’m concerned about safety. Do you have a written safety program or any on-going safety training for your workers?”

Safety in contracting is of critical importance. It is also linked to Feared Question #1 in many ways. If you dont like the answers you received to question #1, you can probably skip this question (or skip them all, for that matter). The last thing any contracting consumer wants is a guy working on a ladder twenty feet above their foyer floor, for a company that doesnt have a written safety program or on-going safety training. “I’ve thoroughly checked out the contractors insurance, what do I care if they work safely?” might be a question that comes to mind. If the contractor has the proper insurance (and you verified it), why should you care how safe they are?

For one thing, an accident on your job site will be highly disruptive to the project. It could cause a delay or an outright stoppage of the work (depending on the severity of the accident). A job you thought would take only three or four days could stretch into weeks or months as the result of a mishap. Unsafe work practices can cause damage to a customer’s property, with our without an accident. A ladder sliding across a foyer floor, smashing into the opposite wall can be quite destructive. What if the insurance is inadequate or has holes? Maybe the worker that was injured was the one guy not covered by workmen’s compensation insurance on the site. Maybe the deductible is so high the contractor cant afford to pay for the damage. Perhaps the crew leader is hurt, and you are left with a handful of helpers to finish your job.

The best scenario is to avoid the mishap in the first place. The best chance for that to occur is to work with a contractor that takes safety seriously. That would include a written safety policy manual, regular safety training, and an overall culture of safe work practices. It isnt hard to tell if they have those qualifications or not. Just ask.

The Smoke and Mirror Tricks

The best way to avoid getting tricked here is to have the contractor show and tell. Ask to see their safety policy manual. Don’t accept answers like “it’s at the printers”, or “my sister-in-law is retyping it as we speak”. Ask about the contractor’s safety training, including how often, where, who attends, and the like. Every contractor knows safety is important, but few will spend a dime on the subject. Do you really want to work with a painter who is more interested in how much is in his pocket rather than the safety of his workers or the well being of his customers?

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