Why Installation Safety Standards Matter in Network Solutions

When it comes to installing essential infrastructure, safety matters! But while that might seem obvious, there’s more to installation safety standards than you may think. Here’s how to choose a network solutions provider that puts safety first, and how doing so drives performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness in the systems they deliver for you.

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Understanding the Need for Installation Safety Standards in Network Solutions

From data centers and mission-critical IT infrastructure to security systems, audio visual (AV) installations, broadband communications and beyond, virtually every business and organization uses an ever-increasing array of network solutions to power its operations.

And each of those systems requires the highest possible level of safety standards, even if that’s not a top-of-mind consideration for the businesses that use them. In fact, the best network solutions providers should prioritize safety whether or not their clients demand it.

They have some very good reasons for doing so. As important as it is to prevent technicians and installation professionals from experiencing physical injuries like trips, falls, and electric shocks, that’s only the beginning. Safety standards also protect the system itself — and the facilities it’s housed in — against malfunctions, fires, and other issues that can compromise performance as well as the wellbeing of the people who interact with it each day.

That’s not all. Minimizing incidents and accidents also helps ensure that projects get delivered on time and budget. And since safety is a big part of the regulations governing those installations — as well as the insurance premiums paid by providers — failure to meet those standards can lead to fines, cost overruns, and even interruptions or shutdowns. And you can rest assured that those costs will be passed on to clients, in some form or another.

In addition, an organization-wide focus on safety also strengthens a company’s culture and risk management profile, while promoting trust, engagement, and communication. And that’s all reflected in the company’s ability to attract and retain the highest-quality technicians and personnel — another important indicator of quality in the systems they build.

Why Some Network Solution Providers Take Safety Standards to the Next Level

In other words, failure to meet safety standards isn’t just a red flag, but an unacceptable obstacle to doing business today. And that’s why the best network solutions providers don’t just consider safety a top priority, but work diligently and proactively to exceed any standards required of them. Because they know that safety goes beyond worker protection to drive operational excellence, they make it a central feature of their operations and identity.

To those who have worked with installation providers before, none of this should come as a surprise. Whether it’s a limited-energy, broadband, or security system, every network installation is governed by a stringent set of standards, codes, and regulations. And safety is a core foundation of each one.

Take, for example, the BICSI standards that govern structured cabling, the NEC (NFPA 70) code defining installation of what are now called limited-energy systems, or the many other guidelines that apply to broadband, security, and fire protection. Each has its own specific protocols, and it’s up to the installation provider to not only adhere to but demonstrate expert knowledge of every aspect of them, taking on that burden on behalf of the clients they serve.

Assessing Your Installation Provider’s Safety Standards

Yet even with this as the baseline expectation for network solutions providers, how can you tell whether your installation partner can truly meet the highest level of safety standards?

For starters, the best companies will strive for excellence — not only meeting applicable standards, but constantly staying ahead of them and anticipating new ones. And that means ingraining safety within their culture, and ensuring that it’s always top of mind for their teams.

There are a number of reliable ways to determine whether your partner is operating at this level. For instance, you should look for an installation provider that can show:

• Clearly defined standards that go beyond applicable codes to encompass a careful, comprehensive diligence to safety, including on-site checklists; hardware inspection; environmental considerations; strictly defined protocols for handling chemicals, asbestos, and other hazardous materials; site-access control; emergency medical procedures; and vehicle safety; among other key considerations.

• A comprehensive training program that goes beyond screening and onboarding to include ongoing education, with the goal of ensuring that employees are always up to date on today’s best practices and prepared for tomorrow’s always-evolving changes.

• Stop Work Authority (SWA) empowerment that gives every employee, regardless of seniority, a “no-blame, no-retaliation” option to pause work to prevent incident and accidents before they occur.

• Better-than-average performance in safety measures for the industry’s most important indicators. For instance, look for a score of less than 1 on your partner's experience modification rate (EMR) and total recordable incident rate (TRIR).

• A history of safety-related achievements like the Platinum Safety Award from Highwire (formerly known as ConstructSecure); the National Safety Excellence and Safety Award from IEC; ABC’s Platinum Level Safety Training Evaluation Process (STEP); or other awards, honors, and recognition.

Choose the Network Solutions Provider with the Highest Level of Commitment to Safety

At IES Communications, we believe that safety should be built into every network installation — and we make a point of upholding the highest standards, at every level of every project. Discover how we prioritize safety in a way that meets your operational needs: Contact us today to learn more or start your next project.

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