The Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that a total of 5,190 fatal work injuries were recorded in the United States in 2016 alone, a 7% increase over the previous year’s total. 21.1% of these occurred in the construction industry, and the most frequently cited standard infractions in the past year include fall protection at #1, scaffolding at #3, ladders at #6, and fall protection training at #9. Issues with workplace environments extend to other industries of course, and businesses of any type can never be too cautious when it comes to the health of employees and (in many cases) even customers. However, these statistics confirm that the U.S. construction industry has a long way to go before it can claim to provide reliable working conditions and effective support. In Nevada, the statistics tell a slightly different story; Nevada reported six construction-related fatalities in 2016. However, even one worksite fatality is too many, and the Nevada Subcontractors Association devotes its energy to ensuring that local construction workers find well-managed, properly-conditioned jobsites and safety resources.

The Nevada Subcontractors Association has committed resources to furthering safety efforts and informing both workers and employers of proper worksite conditions, behavior, and management. We provide classes to increase awareness on the issues related to jobsite safety and host larger events, such as the annual Safety Stand Down week of safety training and first aid instruction, to assist workers from all over Nevada with the most significant difficulties in the construction injury. This event helps us to provide instruction on proper scaffolding, fall protection, basic medical attention, awareness of health hazards, jobsite management, and, perhaps most importantly, communication, and we will continue to host these events every year. Nevada Subcontractors also holds the Safety Awards, organized by the NSA Safety Committee, to acknowledge members who achieve new levels of success in their safety programs. Jobsite safety relies on cooperation and awareness from everyone involved, and our goal is to properly educate every worker in the construction industry.

We endeavor to advocate the rights of construction workers in Nevada, and employee safety is (and will remain) our primary concern. In accordance with OSHA regulations and our organization’s own expectations, we hold our members to the highest safety standards, and we would like to thank everyone who has supported us in furthering construction safety.