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At the Heart of Safety: Supporting Construction Workers’ Health On and Off the Job

Construction professionals know that safety isn’t just about wearing a hard hat or following procedures. It’s about ensuring that everyone goes home at the end of the day uninjured to their loved ones.

That’s why RAS is proud to sponsor the Sioux Falls Hard Hats with Heart event hosted by the American Heart Association on November 20, 2025, at The District.

This annual event brings together construction professionals, community leaders, and safety advocates to raise awareness about cardiovascular health, a critical component of overall worker well-being. It reminds us that safety and health go hand in hand when it comes to keeping job sites productive and safe for workers.

Why Heart Health Belongs on Every Job Site

The construction industry has some of the most physically demanding roles in the workforce. Long hours, strenuous labor, and exposure to heat or cold can take a toll on the body. The same factors that increase injury risk can also contribute to heart health issues, making wellness a key part of effective workers’ compensation risk management.

At RAS, we know that preventing workplace injuries begins with caring for the total health of employees. Supporting initiatives like Hard Hats with Heart aligns with our mission to help employers create safer, more resilient teams.

 

5 Work Comp-Focused Ways to Strengthen Job Site Safety

TIP 1: Start Each Day with a Safety Toolbox Talk

Before the first tool is picked up, take five minutes to discuss job-specific risks, safe lifting practices, and environmental conditions, and stretch. A Consistent safety  toolbox talks reduces complacency, (one of the leading causes of workplace injuries). and helps employees focus on safety and situational awareness of hazards they could be exposed to  while completing their task.

TIP 2: Monitor Fatigue and Heat Stress

Overexertion and heat-related illness are among the most common causes of workers’ comp claims in construction. Encourage and Train your workers to recognize early signs of heat illness including but not limited to: fatigue, dehydration, nausea, headache, and how to mitigate the hazard. Ensure your employees report these to their supervisor immediately to ensure that they reduce the risk of having a severe medical emergency

TIP 3: Target the “Focus Four” Job Site Hazards

The most costly and preventable construction injuries come from OSHA’s “Focus Four” categories: falls, struck-by incidents, caught-in/between accidents, and electrocutions. Prevention starts with proactive planning and consistent oversight:

  1. Falls from heights: Ensure proper fall protection systems, stable scaffolding, and secure ladders. Always inspect your fall protection, scaffolding, and ladders to ensure that they are safe to use. If not, remove them from service and mark them do not use.
  2. Struck-by accidents: Secure materials, enforce exclusion zones, and stay alert around heavy equipment. Heavy equipment has very big blind spots. Remember to keep your head on a swivel and be cautious when working around this equipment. If you need to cross paths with heavy equipment, make sure you make eye contact and have communication with them so you don’t get injured. Also, with cranes, ensure you are not in the swing radius in case a sling fails, and an item could fall on you.
  3. Caught-in/between injuries: Keep safe distances from moving machinery, never work between fixed and mobile objects. Remember never put yourself in a situation where you are in the line of fire or in the point of operation of a machine.
  4. Electrocutions: Maintain at least a ten-foot clearance from overhead power lines and verify that all wiring and tools meet electrical standards. Review your tools and make sure that they are insulated to protect you from electrical shock. Lastly, ensure that you call 811 before you dig, to prevent you from striking any live electrical utility lines.

When contractors address these four risks daily through training, PPE enforcement, and regular site inspections, the claim frequency and severity will drop dramatically.

TIP 4: Equip Supervisors to Lead by Example

Supervisors set the tone. Ensure they model the proper use of PPE, enforce safe work procedures, and identify hazards in real time. A strong leadership culture directly impacts the safety culture of the employees, claim frequency, and severity of injuries.

TIP 5: Make Early Reporting a Habit

Prompt injury reporting helps keep claims manageable and employees on the path to recovery. Reinforce a “no fear” culture where workers understand that early reporting isn’t punitive — it’s preventive.

 

Join Us at Hard Hats with Heart

RAS invites our construction partners, agents, and community members to join us at the Sioux Falls Hard Hats with Heart event on November 20. Together, we can build a stronger culture of safety, wellness, and support for the men and women who build our communities.

Learn more or register here: Sioux Falls Hard Hats with Heart Event Page

If you’re an insurance agent or construction business owner seeking a trusted partner in workers’ compensation, connect with RAS. Our in-house underwriting, loss control expertise, and personalized support help construction companies stay safe, productive, and prepared for whatever the day brings.