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Leading indicators that show whether safety work is happening on construction sites
For subcontractors and safety managers: leading indicators track the activity that prevents harm. Practical measures drawn from reporting, inspections and actions, and how to read them honestly.
By Reldro · · 1 min read
Looking forward, not back
For your subcontractor crews, use this guidance with the current work phase, trade responsibilities and approved procedures in view. Keep your safety manager involved in record reviews and follow-up. This guidance supports record keeping and coordination, not technical authorization to carry out the work.
Injury counts tell you what already happened. Leading indicators look at whether the preventive work is being done: reporting, inspecting, planning and closing actions.
Useful measures
Choose a few measures you can collect consistently.
- Safety concerns raised per site or crew
- Inspections completed against plan
- Pre-task plans signed before work
- Corrective actions closed on time
- Time from report to first response
Read them carefully
A rise in reports may mean more trust, not more danger. Discuss indicators with the people who generate them before drawing conclusions, and avoid targets that encourage under-reporting.
The takeaway
Track the preventive work, read the numbers in conversation with crews, and never reward silence.