The construction industry is rapidly adopting new technologies to improve safety and reduce jobsite risks. Technology-driven solutions such as automated attendance tracking, real-time health and safety monitoring, and enhanced data sharing are allowing construction managers to better manage their operations and optimize the work process.
By incorporating tech-led approaches into site management, construction managers can ensure workers are arriving and departing on time, as well as track when certain tasks were completed and by whom. Using these systems helps to reduce a manager’s reliance on manual processes, such as paper-based checklists or manual data entry. With automated attendance tracking, construction managers can also use the data collected to identify potential safety risks and take appropriate action.
Common pain points for construction site safety management
To ensure the safety of employees in a construction environment, attendance must be diligently monitored and managed. There is no room for laxity since many on-site casualties have taken place – with over 3,414 fatalities reported by Safe Work Australia from 2003 to 2016. This compelling statistic should certainly motivate site managers and safety supervisors to enforce stringent attendance and sign-in protocols on the job site. This way, they can maintain precise accountability for all of the frequent traffic at a bustling worksite.
Sadly, the antiquated paper-based record keeping systems are inefficient and unreliable in moments of crisis. Consequently, this pain point can be often overlooked to the detriment of employee safety on site. The construction site is usually dispersed throughout multiple areas, with various pathways to its entrance. Additionally, the office itself may be miles away from the building grounds. Keeping track of laborers and contractors on paper can become an intense process as people continuously arrive and depart during operation hours. Therefore, managing attendance in this manner can easily turn into a time-consuming hassle.
So what can be done to improve this process?
1. Digitally streamlining site attendance
Real-time monitoring of personnel on the job site is essential for site managers and safety supervisors to guarantee a safe working environment. When workers cannot sign onto the job, it ensures that they are not present. Additionally, having insight into different employees’ credentials and qualifications as they clock in and out provides an extra layer of protection by controlling who has access to the premises.
Automation of attendance across the site, complemented by real-time mapping and tracking capabilities, means that everyone is visible in just a few clicks. With data presented up to date and with complete accuracy, teams have minimal delays when dealing with issues or responding quickly to changes – all while ensuring that safety advisors can conduct their duties competently.
For example, if a safety advisor is on-site and sees an apprentice working with scaffolding, they can access the worker’s information instantly. They can see if their Safe Work Method Statement was signed and evaluate whether or not they have proper qualifications to do that job effectively.
2. Staying connected at all times, especially in emergencies
By having real-time data on each person in the area, not only will it streamline the process of entering and leaving a location, but it also increases site safety through promoting connected teamwork. When faced with an emergency such as during a flood, fire or gas leak incident, relying on paper registers to track personnel can be inefficient and disorganized – especially if handwriting is illegible. For these situations where time is crucial for evacuation purposes, tracking workers digitally provides more accuracy and ease when dealing with hazardous events. In times of emergency, the site manager or safety supervisor can sound a unified alarm by simply pressing a button. This notification is sent simultaneously to all individuals on-site via mobile phone notifications and audible sirens.
The power of this technology goes beyond a simple way to check in or out from the work site. By providing instant communication between devices, new opportunities for use arise on-site. For instance, if first responders have access to important medical information about an employee, they can take quick action and administer more effective treatment if needed.
By delivering the appropriate information in a timely manner, construction businesses can resolve any emergency situations effectively and with minimal risk. Construction safety managers should always begin by monitoring attendance since it plays an integral role for people, places and processes.
3. Preventing, informing and evaluating site processes
Real-time health and safety monitoring also provides construction sites with a way to ensure that all workers are following safety protocols at all times. For example, sensors on hard hats and other protective gear can be used to detect dangerous situations and sound alarms if workers come too close to hazardous areas or equipment. This kind of technology can be used to effectively reduce the risk of workplace accidents or injuries. Additionally, construction management teams can use this data to inform, evaluate and improve safety protocols on site.
Health and safety monitoring has the added benefit of helping construction sites become more efficient by providing better visibility at all times. For example, managers can use real-time data from sensors to detect potential problems or inefficiencies that might be slowing down the project’s progress. This kind of data can be used to make informed decisions about how best to allocate resources and personnel to ensure that the project is completed on time, within budget, and with fewer safety incidents.
Conclusion
Overall, construction management technology is revolutionizing the construction industry by making sites safer, more efficient, and easier to manage.
Data sharing is another important benefit of incorporating technology at construction sites. The ability to easily and quickly share data between workers, management personnel, and subcontractors can help streamline performance across the entire project. By connecting workers with the right information and resources in real-time, construction managers can make better decisions and maximize efficiency.
By utilizing automated attendance tracking systems, real-time health and safety monitoring solutions, and data sharing capabilities, construction managers can ensure their operations run smoothly while also bolstering safety and reducing construction jobsite risks.
Want to get started with digital construction site safety? Book a free PlanRadar product demo today.
