ISN, a software company that helps construction companies improve safety, has released its 2022 edition of the Orange Book, a publication that uses data and best practices to mitigate risk.
ISN reviewed the safety practices of top companies that maintain low incident and injury rates within the construction industry, referring to this group as the ISN Leaderboard.
“For more than 20 years, our team, in partnership with our customers and industry experts, has responded to the changing landscape of risk and safety performance. Through innovation and data analysis, we have been able to enhance our offering and customers’ processes by focusing on leading indicators and other data that shows a direct correlation to improved performance and compliance,” says Brian Callahan, president and chief operating officer at ISN. “We are often asked not what are others doing, but what are the best doing to create a culture of safety and reduce incident rates.”
The Leaderboard analysis found that companies that prioritize risk management strategies, use data to make improvements and create a culture based on the safety and well-being of employees, have the lowest number of injuries and incidents.
According to ISN, the following are important in mitigating risk:
- Comprehensive Risk Management Strategy: Leaderboard companies re-evaluate their requirements, use of ISNetworld functionality and contractor risk levels periodically to continuously improve their contractor and supplier management processes. In addition, 79% of first quartile leaderboard companies manage one or more of the following risks through ISNetworld: cybersecurity, transportation, subcontractor or worker-level. By expanding risk management scopes beyond prime contractors to include subcontractors, and beyond health and safety to include risks such as environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns, companies can better assess the continuously evolving risk landscape.
- Leveraging Data: Leaderboard companies are committed to turning data and insights into action; simply having data is not enough. Data integration across enterprise applications is a critical piece of turning data insights into action. In fact, more than 50% of first quartile companies integrate data from ISNetworld with internal programs to streamline data reporting throughout the enterprise. These data sets provide organizations with a benchmark for measuring, assessing and improving contractor performance over time and enable businesses to make informed decisions.
- Cohesive Company Culture: Leaderboard companies demonstrate a cohesive company culture centered around the health, safety and sustainability of their workforces. Companies who achieve best-in-class contractor and supplier management keep a pulse on safety culture perceptions to better understand risks and areas for improvement. Company culture should be centered on accountability, communication, reporting and investigation with stakeholders engaged at every level.