Overview
Client Overview: A global leader in data center development with a rapidly
expanding construction portfolio across North America and beyond.
ISS Role: Intuitive Safety Solutions (ISS) partnered with the client to
develop and implement a construction safety program, addressing critical safety challenges on their construction sites.
Challenges
- New Safety Leadership: The client’s newly hired Global Construction EHS
Director was tasked with building a
comprehensive safety program from the ground up to mitigate increasing incident rates. - Lack of Existing Program: At the start, no formal safety representation (in-house or third-party) was in place across the
client’s construction sites.
Key Problems:
- Rising incident rates and safety risks on sites.
- Absence of budget and structure for dedicated safety resources.
- No existing processes or contractor accountability mechanisms.
- Limited internal bandwidth for safety program development.
Solutions provided by ISS...
Building the Safety Program
ISS worked collaboratively with the client to design a scalable construction safety program:
- Developed contractor requirements and expectations for third-party safety
personnel. - Assisted in creating a global Construction Health and Safety Resource Guidelines document.
- Identified skill sets, experience, and certifications required for third-party safety consultants.
- Partnered in outlining budget frameworks to allocate safety resources to site clusters.
Strategic Investment
ISS provided this program development service as a long-term strategic partnership.
Pilot Program Implementation
- Conducted a pilot program to test the safety structure across select construction sites.
- Gathered data and demonstrated tangible safety improvements, which ISS presented to decision-makers.
Results and Impact
High-Performing Consultants: ISS deploys mid- to senior-level safety professionals with proven expertise managing large-scale construction projects.
- Consultants excel in communication, risk identification, and stakeholder collaboration.
- ISS consultants provide actionable insights, holding contractors accountable and mitigating risks.
Example: One ISS consultant recommended implementing mandatory spotters for lifts, resulting in a 60% reduction in incidents and near misses within months. - ISS consultants receive consistent positive feedback, with some being directly hired into full-time regional safety roles.
- ISS consultants are repeatedly extended on projects, underscoring their high performance and reliability.
Gaining Buy-In
ISS partnered with the client to “sell” the program internally to key stakeholders, including:
- Executive leadership in construction management.
- Site-level construction managers.
- Procurement teams.
Demonstrating Value of Partnership:
- Highlighted the burden ISS consultants could alleviate for site managers.
- Emphasized the need to hold general contractors accountable to safety contract obligations.
- Showcased pilot results proving reductions in incident rates and increased site safety.
Program Evolution & Growth
Scaling the Program:
- Following pilot success, the program was approved and expanded across North
American data center construction sites. - ISS consultants were placed on projects to oversee and ensure contractor safety
compliance.
Client Safety Team Expansion:
- The program’s success led the client to grow its internal safety team, including regional safety managers.
- ISS transitioned into a support mechanism for the client’s global safety leadership.
Global Reach:
- The program now serves as a scalable model for the client’s worldwide construction safety initiatives.
Key Takeaways
ISS Value Proposition:
- By investing time and expertise into building the client’s safety program, ISS established a long-term, mutually beneficial partnership.
- Expertise in building and scaling construction safety programs.
- High-caliber consultants who deliver measurable safety improvements.
- Commitment to partnership and shared success.
Client Impact:
- Incident rates reduced across pilot sites and scaled programs.
- Successful allocation of safety resources to all North American clusters.
- Demonstrated return on investment in safety programs.
- A comprehensive safety program that reduced incidents and enhanced contractor accountability.
- Improved internal safety capacity and global program scalability.