Disney’s “Finding Nemo” opens with a pair of clownfish who are living within a sea anemone. Fun fact: An anemone is covered with stinging cells for protection; however, clownfish are immune to these cells, which provides them with a safe place to hide from prey. At the same time, the anemone feeds off small food particles left behind by the clownfish. In nature, this symbiotic relationship is called mutualism – where both species benefit from one another.
The case could be made for ‘mutualism’ regarding the relationship between construction quality and jobsite safety. In my professional experience, efforts to improve construction quality also improve jobsite safety, and vice versa. Mutualism.
We’ve all likely seen an image of a sign that reads “Safety is everyone’s business.” This is true, as unsafe actions by just one individual can lead to an accident that involves many. Yet, safety on the construction site is difficult to maintain if safe working behaviors are left to be a “personal choice.”
A reliably safe jobsite requires consistent oversight and accountability. Individuals need to know that their performance matters and they are being watched. There must be consequences for poor performance.
The same is true for construction quality. Even if lives are not on the line, the same culture of consistent oversight and accountability helps ensure quality results when every member of the construction team knows that their performance matters.
This is good news for builders. If you’re looking to strengthen safety or quality on your jobsites, it’s not a balancing act. You’re not riding a seesaw where more emphasis on one end lifts the other and throws everything out of balance. Strengthen your culture of oversight and accountability and get ready for both metrics to improve.