Driving construction safety practice plays a key role in the overall safety of workers. New advancements in technology have made this safety culture possible.
Digital safety compliance and processes are now utilized by various construction companies. From paper-based documents, permits, and checklists, digitalized safety compliance enables productive, seamless, and safer construction practices.
One notable example of digitalized safety processes is the e-PTW. This stands for digital Permits to Work that is required for high-risk jobs. Workers who work in demolition, confined spaces, higher areas, and heavy lifting projects need to accomplish these forms first.
Essentially, these permits are authorized by the state and the construction company itself. Construction safety is assessed and well-planned in order to foresee possible risks and hazards on the construction site.
Through e-PTW, safety permits are thoroughly checked and monitored. It allows for a meticulous process of checking the qualifications and skills of every worker needed to carry out high-risk tasks on the site. Now, the team can access this information without needing to visit on-site projects.
Virtual Training and Practices
Safety training is at the core of every safe workplace. Now, digitalizing safety education and practices are proven to be effective and consistent in increasing safety awareness and imparting the best on-site practices.
Complacency and inexperience are two of the reasons why workplace injuries happen more often. For example, when a person is new on the job and the tasks on-site, injury and accidents are more likely to occur. As such, through virtual training, the team can closely monitor and track safety training and practices.
Digital platforms allow construction companies to hold meetings, record sessions, conduct virtual training, and track workers’ experience of the company’s safety practices. Similarly, this engages team collaboration and attendance. This reinforces active participation and company success when it comes to ensuring safety on-site.
Wearable Technology
Wearable devices play an integral role in keeping workers safe on-site. From “smart watches” that keep track of the worker’s vital signs to “smart vests” that protect the worker’s body from a fall, wearable technology has come a long way to ensure construction safety.
Wearable technology has mitigated risks in the workplace and improved safety practices. Let’s take for example power-assisted tools and robots. Power-assisted tools reduce workplace injuries caused by lifting heavy tools and equipment.
Similarly, robots carry out repetitive tasks such as using small power tools and installing drywall. Indeed, from grabber cones, smart tech is now taking the lead in construction.
The bottom line here rests on the importance of wearable tech in saving lives in the workplace. More likely, this serves as an extension of a person’s life where the technology is infused in the worker’s hats, boots, gloves, and vests. This ensures efficiency and safer work practices on-site.
Also, most of this wearable tech is equipped with GPS and trackers. In any case, where a worker is injured on-site, any team member or project supervisor is immediately notified. Time will tell if the more wearable tech will come to the surface.
Artificial Technology
AI or Artificial Technology is one of the definitive characteristics of construction technology. Tracking patterns and data has never been done easier through the utilization of artificial intelligence. AI has the power to predict possible outcomes, track progress, and draw project insights.
Anticipating the future through the data generated by artificial technology draws insights into the company’s success. The construction industry can now predict potential problems and plan preventive actions and solutions.
As construction companies are embracing technology, efficient and safer workplace are now expected at construction sites.
More than this, AI technology operates 24/7 which increases the efficiency of working on-site. Project supervisors can now make well-informed decisions when it comes to creating a safer and more efficient workplace.
Leveraging Construction Safety Through Technology
Technology is gaining traction. As more construction companies are utilizing digital solutions, safer and more efficient workplaces have come into fruition. Indeed, technology plays an integral role in the advancement of the construction industry.
As more inventions are being tested and more innovations are being put to use, the fusion of technology and construction will surely bore productive outcomes.
A lot of work is yet to be done, but one thing is for sure: safer and efficient construction sites are made possible through the integration of technology.
