While many of the contractors we feature every month want to continue to grow their business, some have hit a sweet spot they plan to stay in for a while.
They have the work to employ a second crew, but they prefer to keep their operation lean. Many owners want to grow enough to have a team but still want to work in the field instead of manage things from the office, so they’re happy with the crew they have.
It takes a lot of time and resources to grow your business into what you want it to be. So it feels great when the hard work pays off and you reach the point where you feel content about your business. What an enviable position to be in.
But there’s a big difference between being content and becoming complacent. You don’t have to keep pushing to grow, but it still takes effort to maintain the standards of quality and safety that brought you to where you are.
Think back to when you first hired employees, or were a trainee yourself. A good new hire is eager to make a good impression, learn everything quickly and strictly adhere to all the standard operating procedures and safety protocols.
That work ethic doesn’t fade away, but becoming comfortable with procedures can lead to a level of complacency. Even the hardest working, most skilled technicians can make mistakes — and when that mistake involves your safety or that of others, a simple oversight can have catastrophic consequences. No one is invincible, and becoming complacent about safety is one of the worst attitudes to have.
It’s important to continue to put in the work to maintain those safety standards and procedures. In the April issue of Cleaner, the Safety First column (“Dedicated to Safety”) discussed ways to make safety a daily part of your company culture and remain dedicated to keeping it top of mind. It’s not feasible for every company to have a safety manger position, but no company can afford not to incorporate safety training and procedures. Like that article states, the key is making safety something employees don’t have to consciously think about. It should be routine and ingrained in every task.
In this issue, Safety First dives into establishing procedures and lines of communication when you do have a dedicated person in charge of safety, along with finding the right person for that position and what the role should entail. Even with a safety manager, it’s important that all chains of command and communication are clear.
While an effective safety coordinator is an important investment, safety is a responsibility that falls to everyone on the job site. With routine training and continuous communication, you can keep safety top of mind and avoid falling into the complacency trap.
Stay safe and enjoy this month’s issue.
