Small Contractors Are Improving on Safety, But Formal Programs Still Lag
According to Safety+Health Magazine, a Dodge Construction Network report surveying 323 general and specialty trade contractors found that firms with 20 or fewer employees are improving safety practices at a faster rate than mid-sized and larger companies, though gaps in formal program adoption remain. Small contractors showed notable gains in online safety training, employee assistance programs, and heat exposure prevention. Still, only 62% of small firms have a formal heat safety plan, compared to more than 80% of larger firms, and just 25% offer employee assistance programs.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Formal safety plans are increasingly a bid and insurance requirement. The 38% of small firms without a heat safety plan are leaving themselves exposed on both fronts, especially heading into summer work seasons.
- The jump in EAP adoption (up from 16% to 25%) signals that worker well-being is becoming a baseline expectation, not a perk. Subcontractors without one may stand out for the wrong reasons on larger projects.
- Technology adoption remains low across the board, with predictive analytics, wearables, and VR training used by fewer than half of respondents, meaning early movers have a real differentiator available.
