Want to know how to spot a legit safety program? Look at how they’re using safety data.
Most construction companies start small and take a “cover your ass” approach to safety – a basic form or two, some waivers, the occasional safety meeting, and maybe a generic safety manual. Some companies are perfectly happy to operate this way, but at some point, many need to take safety more seriously. Either they have a serious incident, they get tired of losing bids due to a poor safety record or realize how much they’re overpaying for insurance or negligence lawsuits.
Regardless of why you need to improve safety, you’ll see limited success unless you take a data-driven approach. You can change tactics and implement new processes, but without data to inform your decisions you might not see the progress you want.
This isn’t just an issue for small companies; large operations can struggle too. You’ve got to have an effective way to gather accurate data, keep it accessible and out of siloes, and be able to make sense of it. None of this is easy to do on your own.
In this article, we’ll talk about how you can put your safety data to work to build a stronger safety program.
How Data Improves Safety Programs
Tracking safety data helps prove what’s working in your safety program and catches what isn’t. If injuries drop after adding new safety measures, that’s solid proof your efforts are paying off. When workers see real improvements, they’re more likely to follow safety protocols.
If leadership sees fewer incidents and lower costs, they’re more likely to invest in better training and equipment. This can be significant since more money can have a serious impact on your safety system’s effectiveness. For every $1 spent on safety, businesses save $4 to $6 in costs related to injuries, downtime, and insurance.
But it isn’t just all about money. Data also helps make safety training more effective. Instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach, you can focus on the real risks your team faces. If reports show that most injuries happen when using a certain piece of equipment, that’s a clear sign to provide better training or rethink how it’s used.
Over time, this approach builds a strong safety culture where workers feel protected, and job sites run more smoothly.
How to Gather Safety Data
Gathering good safety data doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does need to be consistent and accurate. When your data is clear and reliable, it’s easier to spot risks and improve safety. Here’s how to gather safety data effectively:
Set Up a Data Pipeline
The first step is creating a process for gathering your safety data. Start by clearly defining your goals. Are you looking to cut down on falls, reduce equipment accidents, or boost near-miss reporting? When you have clear goals, you’ll know exactly what data you need.
Next, collect safety observations, Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), daily reports, permits, and incident records. Digital platforms or apps can streamline this, allowing data to be submitted from the field instantly. This cuts down on errors and keeps information current.
Train Workers on Data Collection
To collect quality data, workers need to know exactly what to report. Set daily or weekly goals to encourage regular reporting. Clearly explain what information you need and why accuracy matters—when workers know their input directly contributes to their own safety, they’re more likely to take reporting seriously.
It’s equally important to have supervisors and job site leadership involved. When leaders participate and encourage reporting, workers feel supported and more willing to engage with the process.
Set Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
KPIs help you track progress and see exactly where your safety program stands. A few useful KPIs for construction include:
- Observations – Are workers regularly spotting and reporting hazards?
- Permits to Work – Are teams consistently following safety procedures for high-risk jobs?
- Training and Safety Meeting Attendance – Are workers actively participating and staying informed?
- Near Misses – How often are hazards caught before they cause harm? Encouraging near-miss reporting can reduce future incidents.
- JHAs/JSAs/PTPs – Are hazard analyses and pre-task plans regularly completed and followed?
- Incident Rates – How many injuries or accidents are occurring, and are they decreasing over time?
- Cost per Hour – Measure safety performance costs to clearly show the financial benefits of improved safety.
- Lag Time – How quickly does your team respond to reported hazards or incidents?
Organize Data for Easy Analysis
Having lots of safety data is great, but only if you can make sense of it. Consolidate your data into a central database, spreadsheet, or safety management software. Manual systems take too much time and increase the risk of mistakes, so automating this step is beneficial.
Use dashboards with clear, simple charts and graphs. Visualizing data helps you quickly identify successes or areas needing attention. The easier it is to understand your data, the faster you can act on it.
Easier Reporting Means Faster Buy-in
Don’t deliver a 60-page report every month if you can help it. While some companies may require some serious reports, keeping them straightforward and easy to read makes it easier for everyone to actually learn from your hard work. When workers, supervisors, and executives can quickly understand the results, they’ll support safety initiatives more readily. Simple charts, clear summaries, and visuals make it obvious how safety efforts benefit the entire organization.
When people clearly see the benefits of good safety practices, they’re more likely to actively support safety improvements, building a stronger safety culture across your sites.
How to Read Safety Data
Collecting safety data is just the first step—knowing how to read and interpret it is where the real improvements happen. Here’s how you can make sense of your data and use it to drive safety on your construction site:
Focus on Your KPIs
Start by reviewing your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Check how your numbers stack up against your goals. Are your near-miss reports increasing while your incident rates drop? That’s a good sign your safety programs are working. On the other hand, if training attendance is slipping or the frequency of certain incidents isn’t improving, those KPIs highlight areas where action is needed.
Remember, reaching your KPIs isn’t the only goal. Consistently tracking them allows you to see trends over time. If your Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) is trending downward, that’s proof you’re moving in the right direction. But if certain KPIs aren’t meeting targets, it’s time to ask why and adjust your approach.
Leverage Your Dashboard
Your dashboard is a powerful tool for understanding safety data quickly. Instead of digging through spreadsheets, dashboards clearly display what’s working—and what isn’t. Keep your visuals simple and easy to understand. Graphs and charts highlighting key data points, such as incident trends or permit compliance, help you quickly grasp the situation.
Make a habit of regularly checking your dashboard. Quick daily or weekly reviews help catch small issues before they become big problems. Simple visual data makes it easy for everyone—from workers to top management—to stay informed.
Simplify Your Analysis for Opportunities
Don’t get overwhelmed by too much information. Keep your charts simple and clear, focusing on trends rather than getting lost in details. Graphs showing incident rates or safety observations over time can quickly highlight your successes or uncover areas needing attention.
When you spot an opportunity, act on it fast. If data shows many incidents occurring during specific tasks, provide targeted training or improve procedures. Simple, easy-to-read reports can help you quickly see the impact of safety efforts and clearly communicate those results to your team.
By reading and acting on your safety data analytics effectively, you’ll keep workers safer, improve job site performance, and foster a strong, proactive safety culture.
How to Use Safety Data to Drive Action
Collecting and analyzing safety data is only effective if you use it to take action. Once you’ve read the numbers and identified trends, here’s how to put your insights into practice to create a safer construction site:
Identify Common Hazards
Start by looking for patterns in your safety data. Which hazards pop up repeatedly? Maybe it’s frequent falls from heights, equipment-related injuries, or problems with specific tasks like excavation or electrical work. Your incident reports and near-miss data will clearly show you where the most significant risks are.
Once you identify these common hazards, prioritize them based on how often they occur or how serious they are. This helps you focus resources on fixing the issues that matter most.
Set Up Controls
After pinpointing the main hazards, use your data to set up controls or improve existing ones. Controls can range from simple fixes, like better signage or protective equipment, to more complex solutions, such as updating work procedures or improving equipment maintenance.
For example, if your data shows frequent falls from ladders, you might introduce safer ladder options or provide fall protection training. Whatever the hazard, safety data gives you clear guidance on what needs fixing first.
Conduct Employee Training
Safety data should directly inform your training programs. Use the hazards identified in your data to create targeted training sessions. Workers appreciate training that’s directly relevant to the risks they face daily, rather than generic lessons.
For instance, if data indicates workers frequently face incidents while operating heavy machinery, focus training sessions specifically on equipment operation safety. This kind of targeted training reduces accidents and shows workers you’re genuinely focused on their safety.
Use Data to Gain Buy-in
Safety data is powerful when it comes to getting buy-in from workers and leadership. Share simple, easy-to-understand summaries that highlight successes, like reductions in injury rates or fewer near-misses. Clear evidence helps everyone—from site crews to upper management—see the direct benefits of investing time and resources in safety.
When employees notice the data-driven improvements on their job sites, they’re more likely to participate in reporting hazards, following safety procedures, and staying engaged in safety meetings. Similarly, when leadership sees reduced costs from fewer incidents, they’re more likely to support ongoing safety initiatives.
Acting based on your safety data creates a workplace culture where everyone feels responsible for safety, leading to fewer accidents, lower costs, and higher productivity.
Streamline Safety Data with Safety Mojo
Turning safety data into action can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Safety Mojo simplifies the entire process, making data easier to collect, analyze, and act on—so you can spend less time sorting through numbers and more time improving safety on your job sites.
Improved Data Collection
Safety Mojo makes collecting safety data quick and easy. Instead of complicated paperwork or manual reports, workers can submit safety observations, near-misses, JHAs, and incidents right from their phones or tablets. This user-friendly approach boosts participation, ensuring your data is both complete and accurate.
Because the process is so straightforward, workers are more likely to report consistently. Better reporting means clearer insights—and clearer insights lead to safer job sites.
Automated Real-Time Data Pipeline
With Safety Mojo, your safety data is automatically organized as soon as it’s entered. No more manually transferring information or worrying about mistakes in spreadsheets. The real-time data pipeline ensures everything you need is always up-to-date and ready for analysis.
Automation doesn’t just save time—it also cuts down on errors. This means you can trust the data to reflect exactly what’s happening on-site, helping you make quicker, smarter decisions.
Simple, Reliable Dashboards
One of Safety Mojo’s biggest strengths is how it clearly presents your safety data. Instead of sifting through complex reports, dashboards clearly show trends, highlight problem areas, and quickly indicate your successes.
Simple visuals like charts and graphs make it easy for everyone—from field workers to company leaders—to understand what’s happening at a glance. This clarity helps teams react quickly, driving faster buy-in and creating stronger safety practices company-wide.
Want to see how Safety Mojo can simplify and streamline your data pipelines? Get a free demo today!
