This leading construction firm already had a strong safety culture—but recurring incidents revealed a consistent gap: workers weren’t always recognizing hazards in plain sight. “We’d had a few close calls,” said one of the safety leaders. “And during incident reviews, we kept hearing the same thing: ‘I’ve walked by that a dozen times—I never saw it.’ That’s when we knew we had to look deeper.”
While flipping through a safety trade publication, an article on Visual Literacy and hazard recognition caught their attention. “It made immediate sense to me,” the safety leader explained. “I’d taken Art History in college, and my mom’s an artist, so I was familiar with the concept of seeing through a more critical lens. What intrigued me was applying that lens to jobsite safety.”
Seeing The Job Site With New Eyes
The goal in adopting COVE’s Visual Literacy training was to improve how workers assessed the entire scope of a construction site—recognizing hazards not just in obvious places, but in the margins, the blind spots, and the familiar.
The results came quickly. Field crews responded positively to the training and began applying the techniques during pre-task planning, site walks, and toolbox talks. “What we’ve noticed most,” said the safety manager, “is that people are slowing down. They’re more intentional—starting from the perimeter and working inward, instead of rushing into a task without assessing the full picture.”
Tangible Impact In The Field
Visual Literacy tools are now an integral part of how the team conducts safety inspections and quality assurance checks. Using principles like contrast, shape, and spatial awareness, crews are better able to identify improperly installed systems, overlooked trip hazards, and inconsistencies in work methods—especially critical in high-risk areas like fall protection and equipment operation.
This shift has translated into measurable results:
- A 50% increase in critical findings—both positive and negative—during site walks, tracked via their safety and quality app.
- Reduced rework and fewer missed safety issues during planning and execution.
- More effective and immediate resolution of findings through photographic evidence and improved collaboration with trade partners.
By identifying issues earlier—often in the planning phase—teams are resolving them before work begins, reducing rework, delays, and near misses. “We’re able to validate findings with photo documentation and use that as a coaching tool with our trade partners,” said the Quality Superintendent. “It’s helping everyone see what’s really happening on site.”
A Critical Catch That Averted a Costly Mistake
In one notable case, a Quality Superintendent was conducting a “first-look” inspection during the initial phase of product installation. While reviewing material labels, a slight difference in color caught his eye. Upon further inspection, he discovered the product had expired. He immediately halted the install, replaced the material, and avoided a potential failure and costly warranty claim.
A Broader View of Safety
By incorporating the “elements of art” and “principles of design” taught in Visual Literacy training, this organization has not only improved the quantity of observable items in their field reviews but also the quality of decision-making and communication across teams.
“We weren’t looking for a band-aid—we were looking for a mindset shift,” they explained. “Visual Literacy gave us that shift. It made our already good safety culture more aware, more deliberate, and ultimately, more effective.”
Another construction project putting Visual Literacy into practice: Turner Lathrop set out to improve safety on a complex build by training their team in Visual Literacy concepts. They launched a pilot at the Imagination Station in Toledo, OH, and partnered with COVE to create targeted training for subcontractor foremen—ensuring consistent safety messaging despite high worker turnover. Learn more about Turner Lathrop’s story.
