You don't need a hardhat to read this article. But if wearing one on the construction site isn't a routine for all of your workers, now is a good time to put in place a mandatory policy. The same goes for safety goggles, ear protection and a company-wide commitment to effective safety communications. Start now and save yourself time, money and potential grief in the long run.

These habits are important not only for construction workers, but for supervisors, too. Timelines and budgets are important, but a few lost dollars or days are nothing compared to the loss of life or serious bodily harm that is all too common in the construction industry.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration estimates that the construction industry loses 1,000 workers every year to work-related accidents - many of them preventable. How many other industries can you think of where it would be considered reasonable to expect so many fatalities in a single year? We can do better, and effective safety programs can help improve this statistic.

While it's impossible to remove all risks from the workplace, there are practical steps that every business can take to mitigate risks. Some steps may be difficult to enforce, but you owe your workers a strong effort to surmount the obstacles. Not only will preventative safety measures keep you and your co-workers safe and healthy, they can increase productivity and decrease the likelihood of budget overruns.

Remember, once you step onto the job site, your own safety and that of your co-workers should be your number one priority. Here are some safety tips to consider:

1. Keep your feet on the ground - or scaffolding or ladder.