Build a Safer Workplace: Why Contractor Metrics Matter More Than You Think

Safety culture is about more than posters and procedures. It's reflected in the actions of everyone on-site, including contractors. When contractors handle critical tasks, they become part of your workforce, and how they work speaks volumes. If they cut corners or skip steps, it signals deeper issues. Do they understand your expectations? Are your standards clear? Are they being held accountable?

If you can't confidently answer these questions, you may not truly know the strength of your safety culture. That’s where contractor data becomes essential. Tracking incidents, observations, and onboarding completion rates reveals how well third-party workers align with your standards. In this article, we’ll show you how contractor data offers powerful insights and how Contractor Management software makes capturing and acting on this data simple and effective.

Why Contractor Data Matters

Contractors often work alongside your employees, use your equipment, and enter your hazardous zones. Yet, too often, they fall outside the regular safety conversation. When contractors aren't held to the same safety expectations, risks rise. Incidents can happen. Worse, those incidents can reveal hidden cracks in your safety foundation.

Accountability does not end with full-time staff. Whether contractors are on-site for a day or a year, they need to meet your safety standards. How well they do that is a direct reflection of your organization's commitment to protecting people.

Recognizing the importance of contractor data is only step one. The next is knowing exactly what to watch to measure how well they align with your safety expectations.

What to Track: Contractor Data That Speaks Volumes

Not all contractor data tells the same story. Some metrics reveal much more about your safety culture than others.

Incident Reports

Incidents are one of the clearest indicators of safety performance. When contractors experience frequent incidents, it signals more than bad luck. It may point to:

• Insufficient training or unclear safety procedures

• Gaps in communication between contractors and site management

• Inadequate supervision or monitoring of high-risk activities

Even minor incidents matter. Repeated low-severity issues, like trips or minor tool mishandling, may reveal complacency or a lack of attention to detail. These small oversights often lead to more serious problems down the line if left unchecked.

At the same time, seeing very few or no incident reports is not always a positive sign. Contractors may hesitate to report issues if they fear blame, punishment, or simply don’t believe their concerns will be addressed. A healthy safety culture removes that fear and promotes honest, timely reporting.

Safety Observations

While incidents capture what has already gone wrong, observations give you insight into what could go wrong. Capturing daily observations, both safe and unsafe behaviors, provides valuable context around site conditions and contractor engagement.

In strong safety cultures, observations are frequent and transparent. Contractors feel comfortable flagging unsafe behaviors or suggesting improvements. When observations are consistently submitted, it shows that everyone is actively participating in maintaining a safe environment.

Low observation rates, on the other hand, may indicate:

• A lack of engagement from contractors
  

• Uncertainty about reporting procedures
  

• Fear of repercussions for speaking up

For example, if a contractor notices another worker operating without proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and does not report it, that moment is lost. Over time, silence around these issues becomes the norm, weakening your safety program.

Onboarding Completion Rates

Getting contractors up to speed starts before they set foot on-site. Onboarding, or safety orientations, ensures that every worker knows the site rules, understands hazards, and recognizes your expectations from day one.

Completion rates for onboarding are telling. Low completion numbers often signal:

• Poor tracking and accountability
  

• Contractors rushing to get started without proper preparation
  

• A culture that prioritizes productivity over safety

In industries like manufacturing or power, where unique site hazards are common, skipping onboarding can have serious consequences. Contractors unfamiliar with lockout/tagout procedures or confined space entry protocols can create dangerous situations for themselves and others.

By monitoring these key data points, incidents, observations, and onboarding completion, you gain a clearer picture of how well contractors are living up to your safety expectations. Of course, collecting this data is one thing. Understanding what it says about your safety culture requires a closer look.

Reading Between the Lines: What the Data Tells You

Tracking contractor data is only useful if you know how to interpret it. Low incident rates might look good on paper but may indicate underreporting. High onboarding completion rates combined with lower incident rates, however, suggest contractors are both well-prepared and following safety protocols.

Patterns of recurring non-compliance, missed orientations, or repeated hazards signal deeper problems. These could be gaps in communication, accountability, or even organizational values around safety. By identifying trends, not just one-off occurrences, you can pinpoint areas where your safety culture may be slipping.

Still, spotting patterns can be challenging when your contractor data is scattered or incomplete.

Why Tracking Contractor Data is Harder Than It Sounds

Many companies struggle to gather and make sense of contractor data. Data is often scattered. Some live in spreadsheets, others in paper records, emails, or individual project management tools. This makes it difficult to connect the dots.

Inconsistent processes from site to site also create problems. Different teams may onboard contractors in different ways. Some may collect data rigorously, while others take a casual approach. Without a centralized view, leadership can’t spot trends or hold contractors accountable across the board. This makes it difficult to align contractor performance with company-wide safety goals.

That’s why having one unified solution can make all the difference, and that’s exactly what HSI offers.

How HSI’s Contractor Management Module Makes a Difference

HSI’s Contractor Management module brings all contractor data into one intuitive system, so nothing gets missed. Here’s how it works:

• Track key data in real-time: Monitor incidents, observations, and onboarding with up-to-date visibility across your workforce.
  

• Stay compliant with automated alerts: Automatically track licenses, qualifications, and orientations so you don’t have to chase paperwork or manually follow up.
  

• Promote contractor accountability: Allow contractors to log incidents and hazards directly, reducing bottlenecks and ensuring fast, accurate reporting.
  

• Streamline workflows and approvals: Built-in notifications and approvals help maintain consistency and compliance across your organization.
  

• Connect contractor safety to your larger safety program: The module integrates seamlessly with HSI’s EHS System, ensuring contractor safety is fully aligned with your company’s safety goals.
  

Contractor data isn’t just about compliance. It’s about trust, accountability, and culture. When contractors understand your safety expectations, and meet them, it sends a powerful message.

HSI’s Contractor Management module makes this easier, smarter, and faster. By bringing all contractor-related safety data into a single view, you’ll gain the clarity and control needed to protect your people and grow your safety culture.

Ready to take control of your contractor safety program? Contact us to learn how HSI can help.