How Technology Is Improving Construction Site Safety
Construction is a dangerous industry, and injuries on the jobsite seem inevitable. And with them come paperwork and potentially a loss of an employee for an extended period of time. There have been major improvements to construction site safety that have come out in recent years. From wearable technology to virtual reality, when properly utilized, technology is making it safer now more than ever before to maintain jobsite safety.
»Did You Know
Forbes recently reported 45% of households in the U.S. use smart home devices in 2023!
In today’s rapidly advancing world, innovative technologies are continually being developed and integrated into various industries, including construction.
These cutting-edge technologies have the potential to revolutionize the way we design and build homes, making the construction process faster, more efficient, and more sustainable. As a result, these innovative technologies could soon become standard fixtures in new home construction, offering numerous benefits to homeowners and builders alike.
Let’s go through the various technologies available to improve construction site safety.
Wearable Tech: Monitoring Safety On a Personal Level
SangHyun Lee, associate professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Michigan said, “wearable sensors can improve construction worker safety and also reduce costs through better data on worker health.”
He goes on to say, “Many workers wind up leaving construction jobs without enjoying their full career due to injuries or stressful environments…[W]earables can be used to monitor the physical and mental stress of workers so that any potential problems can be understood and, eventually, fixed…[giving] a sense of a worker’s emotional state and high-stress levels can be indicative of unsafe behaviors. It’s hard for a construction worker to carry any monitoring devices or to stop their labor to provide data, but wearables, like a wristband, can be worn without interfering in that work while continuously sending back data…they can be used for important communication, such as safety alarms.”
He concludes by saying, “Adding sensing technology could lower insurance premiums since many insurance companies provide discounts if companies engage in activity aimed at reducing workplace injuries and accidents.”
Virtual-World Preventing Real-World Accidents
Virtual reality is not just for video games. Recently the American Society of Safety Professionals released a safety app. This app “provides an immersive 3- to 5-minute experience in which users wear a headset and enter a virtual environment to learn how to operate safely when working above ground. They navigate the roof of a two-story building and identify common fall hazards.”
»Did You Know
Falls are in OSHA’s “Fatal Four” injuries and also the most frequently cited OSHA violation in 2017, accounting for 38% of all construction deaths in 2016.
🔗 How Job Site Supervisors Can Improve Site Safety In Construction🔗
This VR experience is not only cool, but it is also lifesaving, whether for construction or maintenance.
This training puts employees in a realistic situation where they must react just like in real life. This is perfect for those who prefer hands-on work, rather than a manual. VR offers this reality in a thrilling way.
Mobile Safety Processes
Mobile apps can improve construction safety in several ways. Firstly, they enable workers to access critical safety information and protocols on their mobile devices through documents, thereby promoting awareness and encouraging safe practices. Mobile apps can also be used to report safety incidents, hazards, and near-misses in real time, enabling prompt action to be taken to mitigate potential risks.
Time-tracking apps help protect your crews and your company by implementing Safety Sign-Off Features. This feature promotes a culture around safety and documentation to ensure that your company is protected against false injury claims and ensures supervisors are aware of injury on the jobsite. Interested in learning more? Schedule a demo today!
A Safer World For the Whole Company
No matter your role in the company, construction safety is the goal. With technology, you may not be able to avoid all of the injuries that befall your company, but you can improve safety in the workplace. You can rest easier knowing you have supplied your employees with the proper tools to avoid serious problems.
