Construction work practices and conditions improved after 2-years' participation in the HomeSafe pilot program

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health and Safety
• Construction Management
• Public Health Interventions

Background:

• Job-site safety in residential construction remains a critical concern.
• The HomeSafe pilot program was established as a strategic partnership to address safety in this industry.
• Understanding the long-term impact of safety interventions is crucial for worker well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reevaluate changes in job-site safety audit scores among residential construction workers with prolonged exposure to the HomeSafe pilot program.
• To assess the effectiveness of the HomeSafe program over a 2.5-year period.
• To compare the safety performance of companies participating in HomeSafe with control companies.

Main Methods:

• A repeated measure of a cohort study design was employed.
• Data were collected from 41 residential construction companies in the Denver metro area.
• Safety audit scores were compared between HomeSafe partner companies and control companies over 2.5 years.

Main Results:

• Companies in the HomeSafe program showed a significant improvement in audit scores, increasing from 71.8 to 76.8 (p=.01).
• HomeSafe companies consistently outperformed control companies in safety audit scores (p=.01).
• Prolonged exposure (at least 2 years) to the HomeSafe program correlated with improved audit scores.

Conclusions:

• The HomeSafe pilot program demonstrates sustained effectiveness in enhancing job-site safety in residential construction.
• Long-term engagement with safety programs like HomeSafe is vital for achieving measurable improvements in workplace safety.
• The findings support the continued implementation and expansion of the HomeSafe initiative.