Survey: Nearly two-thirds of construction firms adopt SIF prevention programs

Boulder, CO — Nearly two-thirds of construction firms have implemented a program to prevent serious injuries and fatalities, commonly called SIFs, according to the results of a recent survey conducted by the Construction Safety Research Alliance.

SIF prevention and HECA adoption rates

For CSRA’s annual Safety in Practice Report, researchers examined responses from 72 construction firms on seven safety concepts: SIF prevention program, lagging indicators such as total recordable incident rate as incentivized metrics, high-energy control assessments or HECA program, alternative measurement metrics, quality of leading indicators field guides and scorecards, alternative controls definition, and new hierarchy of energy controls. Results also show that HECA adoption is increasing, with 26% of the firms implementing a program last year – up from 20% in 2024. Another 44% of the firms indicated that they plan to implement a HECA program, an increase from 38% the year before, according to Safety+Health Magazine.

Incentive metrics and compliance concerns

Meanwhile, 63% of the firms don’t have safety metrics tied to management or employee incentives or bonuses, or metrics used to track regulatory compliance. All of these companies reported concerns related to leadership overreaction and misplaced focus on low-severity recordable injuries. Among the 24 respondents (33%) who tie incentives for executive to middle leadership to safety performance metrics, the most cited reason is to build organizational commitment to safety.

Report purpose and methodology

CSRA advises that the report is not an endorsement of any specific safety activity or best practice. It continues that all research topics in this report are rigorously researched by the CSRA, and their connection to SIF prevention is tested through empirical, peer-reviewed academic literature. The goal is to facilitate learning and discussion rather than to endorse any specific approach, according to Safety+Health Magazine.