In the high-stakes world of construction, the focus is often on managing the big, visible risks: falls, electrocutions, and trench collapses. But some of the most insidious and costly hazards are the ones you don’t immediately see coming, like a seemingly innocuous piece of concrete falling from a height. This isn’t just a safety issue; it’s a critical financial one. While the industry has made great strides in protecting workers, the dangers of dropped and falling objects—and the property damage they cause—remain a significant and often overlooked drain on a company’s bottom line.
The data confirms this reality. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “struck by object” is one of the “Fatal Four” leading causes of death in construction, accounting for 241 fatal injuries in a single recent year alone. While a core slug may not always be fatal, its mass and velocity can cause life-altering injuries and catastrophic property damage. A Liberty Mutual study cited by the National Safety Council noted that “struck by” incidents resulted in billions of dollars in workers’ compensation claims. But these figures only account for the human cost. What is often ignored is the price of what a falling object strikes below.
Picture this: a crew is coring a floor on the third story of a new commercial building. As the drill finishes its cut, a 30-pound concrete core slug slips from the operator’s grasp, plummeting to the floor below. It doesn’t strike a person, but it lands squarely on a newly installed piece of HVAC equipment. The result is a damaged unit, a project delay, and a costly insurance claim. While general liability insurance may cover the property damage, it doesn’t cover the lost time, the administrative hassle of the claim, or the inevitable increase in future premiums. The cost of a single incident can range from thousands in repairs to a halt in operations, demonstrating that protecting property and equipment is just as vital to profitability as protecting people.
This is why a reactive safety plan—one that only addresses incidents after they occur—is destined to fail. The most effective approach is a proactive one, where you design out and eliminate hazards before they can cause an accident. The traditional method of concrete coring, which often involves a worker precariously catching a heavy core slug, is fraught with both personal injury risk and the certainty of potential property damage. It’s a scenario where a simple, heavy piece of debris becomes a dangerous projectile, threatening everything in its path.
This is where innovative solutions can make all the difference. With our CorePro Extractor, there is no longer a safety hazard that involves a falling core slug. You don’t have to worry about catching the core, falling off a ladder, or damaging someone’s property. The CorePro holds onto the core slug until you are ready to remove and dispose of it safely.
The benefits of the CorePro Extractor extend far beyond hazard elimination. It’s an investment that directly improves safety, efficiency, and profitability.
- Hazard Elimination: It removes the risk of dropped objects, protecting workers below and preventing costly property damage.
- Increased Productivity: A single worker can operate the coring rig and safely manage the removal of the slug, freeing up other crew members for different tasks. This optimized process means projects can be completed faster and on budget.
- Reduced Liability: By eliminating a common source of both personal injury and property damage, you significantly reduce the potential for costly insurance claims and legal fees.
- Enhanced Reputation: A company that proactively invests in the safest and most efficient tools signals a commitment to quality and professionalism, improving its reputation with clients and attracting top talent.
The traditional mindset that safety and productivity are competing priorities is outdated and incorrect. By adopting solutions like the CorePro Extractor, construction companies can set a new standard for safety and productivity, proving that you don’t have to choose between a safe workplace and a profitable one. You can, and should, have both.