Tech Improves Construction Safety

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3 construction workers on their cellphones

One of the most dangerous jobs in the world is to work on a construction site.

Prior to technology, accidents and collisions used to be commonplace on-site. But with the advancements in technology, safety has greatly improved.

Technology impacts everyday communication on site. Previously, job sites waited days or weeks to have telephones installed. Now with cell phones, communication is instantaneous. Superintendents and various workers can communicate with crews throughout the site within seconds to relay information. Each day the layout of the site can be transmitted to crews via email or speaking on the phone to avoid potential accidents by knowing where and what each crew is doing on-site that day.

Recording of safety inspections has changed dramatically. The reporting can be done remotely from the site through tablet or laptop devices. Consequently, all previous reports can be accessed anywhere at any time it needs to be recalled. By inputting the findings into programs, contractors can track trends in the data to help predict future incidents and remediate the situation before it occurs. This ease of access to information enables issues to be solved faster since it has been observed before.

The development of cameras and video recording devices allows for real-time observations remotely or onsite. By accessing a live video feed, safety measures can be regulated at any time while also observing an issue and fixing it before an accident can happen. These devices also keep onsite workers accountable for their actions by practicing the outlined safety measures. It can also help to understand what caused or occurred during an accident.

Safety Technology for the Future:

Wearable technology is a hot topic everywhere. More specifically for safety, it can have a major impact on construction sites. Smart clothing/Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is being developed for site workers. Hard hats are being constructed to be able to detect and report an impact or fall; additionally, some have been implemented with carbon monoxide detecting systems. Some can also show when it is not being worn in a specified area. Safety vests are also great for implementing technologies such as indicating vitals, body temperature, repetitive motions that could lead to a potential injury, and GPS locating devices. GPS could be especially useful for tracking workers’ movements onsite and locating missing persons when major accidents have occurred.

At Tocci, it’s “Safety First, Safety Last, Safety Always.”

Header Image:
The Phone Line Is Somewhere Here
Graham Burton (Permissions)