No element of football and construction is more similar than the importance of teamwork. Protecting the quarterback and not leaving a wide receiver vulnerable for a vicious tackle on a reception are basic football tenets that aim to prevent injuries. But the project team on the New Meadowlands Stadium went farther than the standard practices when it tackled the topic of safety for workers on the $1.6 billion project.
The team used a multi-layered plan to inculcate and reinforce safety thinking at every step of the project, starting with mandatory drug tests and site safety training for all participants – enforced in part by successful “graduates” of the program getting completion stickers to put on their hard hats. The routine continued with daily and other periodic activities stretching from the mundane to big-picture items. For instance, workers started each day with “stretch and flex” exercises to help prevent soft tissue injuries, and all workers had to wear their personal protection equipment at all times, with additional levels of gear and training for those working from heights, such as fall protection apparatus.