Small Construction Firms Improve Safety Practices, Report Finds

Small Construction Companies Show Safety Progress

A report from Dodge Construction Network, released on May 11, 2026, in Boston, indicates that smaller construction firms with 20 or fewer employees are making strides in employee safety, health, and well-being, though they still lag behind larger firms. The network conducted a survey of 323 general and specialty trade contractors for its seventh biennial report on safety management in the construction industry, showing progress in areas such as the use of online safety training, offering employee assistance programs, and employing multiple methods to gauge and prevent heat exposure. According to Safety+Health Magazine, small firms are advancing faster in these areas than mid-sized or larger employers.

Key Findings on Safety Management

The survey results reveal that construction firms with 20 or fewer employees have improved in formal safety management practices compared to the 2023 report, with faster growth noted in online safety training and employee assistance programs. More than 80% of the firms reported using heat illness and injury prevention strategies, including provisions for water, rest, and shade, as well as environmental monitoring, training, and emergency response plans. However, only 62% of small firms have a heat safety plan, in contrast to more than 80% of mid-sized and large firms, according to the report highlighted by Safety+Health Magazine.

Advances in Employee Well-Being

The percentage of small contractors with employee assistance programs increased to 25% from 16% in the previous report, while overall, 46% of contractors have such programs. The report also states that 52% of contractors report their workers often face daily commutes exceeding 100 miles or overnight stays, which can increase stress and fatigue affecting worker well-being. These findings underscore the ongoing efforts by small firms to address health challenges, as detailed in the Dodge Construction Network’s analysis.

Technology Adoption for Safety

Contractors frequently use technologies such as predictive analytics, wearable sensors, and virtual reality training to enhance safety, though these are employed by fewer than half of the survey respondents. Other technologies like Building Information Modeling, laser scanning, and drones, which are widely used for productivity, also have safety applications that contractors could leverage more. According to Safety+Health Magazine, this suggests untapped potential for improving jobsite safety through strategic technology use.