Elements of the program can now be found across the organization. At the job level, for example, work crews go through pre-task planning to determine the steps necessary to perform work activities safely. Mitigating the risk of falls from 6 ft or higher with appropriate equipment is a good step; eliminating them entirely where possible, such as with scaffolding or other measures, is better.

A new safety orientation video also reflects the cultural shift; instead of simply laying out rules and regulations, it stresses global safety principles and connects them to everyday life.

The contractor's emphasis on safety isn't limited to its employees and subcontractors. Suppliers are also involved. Recognizing the growing use of telehandlers in recent years, for example, Balfour Beatty established a national agreement with SunBelt Rentals to install proximity alarms on any telehandler shipped to one of the firm's projects.

"Telehandlers have a blind spot to the right rear, where the operator's view is blocked by a boom," Smithgall says. "The proximity sensors produce an audible alarm that alerts the operator when they're getting close to something. They're also helpful for when the operator switches to another drive mode and changes the surrounding caution area."

"Balfour Beatty pursued some out-of-the-box thinking (on) safety," says Jeff Stachowiak, Sunbelt Rentals director of safety training, whose company developed a test to help the contractor better assess the skills of prospective telehandler operators. "They're proactive. They're not waiting for an accident to do something."

Additionally, the contractor is working with tower crane suppliers to incorporate anticollision and zone controls on those machines.

"We won't wake up one day and say, 'We're there,'" Smithgall says. "Maintaining the principles of Zero Harm is constant work."

So, too, says Layman, is Balfour Beatty's continuing effort to adapt its approach and services to the demands of a market that has changed markedly in recent years.

"Owners want contractors and suppliers that are willing to jump in and learn together, and not all firms are capable of doing this," he says. "You have to be disciplined and willing to do it, regardless of how large or small a firm you are."