Your jobsite has a safety plan. Does your business?

Are you prepared? September is National Preparedness Month, and this week we have details to help you prepare your business for natural disasters and lower safety risks. This issue also has the scoop on contractors’ backlogs and tips for marketing your operation. 

But first, check out this amazing photo of lightning striking a construction crane in Boston. 

» Excavators do the darndest things. Get a load of this montage of excavator escapades.

» ⚠️ Do not try this at home! Pretty sure your dentist would join us in saying don’t use your Sawzall for this.

» Pass it on. See how one retired contractor inspires young people to join the trades.

» 🥪 Don’t waste it. You’re already reducing construction waste—now how about food waste from crew meals?

NIOSH and the CDC rolled out Prevention through Design (PtD) to support the health and safety of the nation’s 12 million construction workers. PtD encourages AEC professionals to bake in safety from bid to hand-off and beyond to reduce common risks.

Crew members are most likely to be hurt from falls, slips and trips; transportation incidents; and exposure to harmful substances or environments. Suggested safeguards include: temporary stairs instead of ladders, limited work at height, separate and delineated pedestrian and vehicle zones, proper ventilation and PPE to reduce dust and chemical exposure. To help you get started, NIOSH has published specific recommendations and implementation tips in a Prevention through Design Toolkit for the Construction Industry.

Why it matters: The most recent CDC data confirm that construction has the highest number of annual fatalities (1,000) of all sectors. Limiting hazards is good for your business, keeping workers on the job and reducing the financial impact of fines and settlements. (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention)

National Preparedness Month is for businesses, too! As a contractor, you’re already hyper-aware of how extreme weather and other natural disasters impact your projects. But how about your business? The NAHB recommends a Continuity of Operations plan. The document should cover how you’ll communicate with crew and clients; protect tools, equipment and personnel; and get back to work when the threat is past. Want more support? Visit Ready.gov for general tips and check in with your insurance carrier and local emergency management agency for advice specific to your business and location.

Why it matters: It’s too late to figure all this out when disaster hits. Plan now! (NAHB)

Backlogs are getting bigger for the nation’s smallest contractors, according to the latest Associated Builders and Contractors Construction Backlog Indicator, which rebounded to 8.5 months. Despite the gains, ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu cautions that the backlog “remains below the prevailing level from the last several months.” The group’s Construction Confidence Index shows the backlogs’ ripple effect: readings on sales and profit margins rose in August against declines in staffing levels. 

Why it matters: A strong backlog shows that you have a predictable near-term revenue stream and are credit-worthy—and that makes financial and strategic planning easier. (Construction & Demolition Recycler)

» Working women: Illinois mandates accommodations

» Problematic policy: Rule hamstrings federal housing funds

» Foregoing fees: Seattle considers new policy

» Circular construction: Recycled plastic materials on the way

Rapid Result Creators Founder Derek Isaac joins Builder Marketing Podcast hosts Greg Bray and Kevin Weitzel to discuss the ins and outs of promoting your contracting business. Isaac notes that one of the biggest missed opportunities is lack of coverage. “In the online world, you can be on every social media platform essentially for free. Email marketing is more or less free,” Isaac explains. “There's all of these low-cost ways to at least be in those spaces without a whole lot of input...Just [get] out there more.” (Builder Marketing Podcast)

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The Level is curated and written by Margot Lester and edited by Bianca Prieto