According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Statistics, over 20,000 people die annually because of construction sites accidents in America. Construction sites have lately become dangerous zones.
If you have ever walked past a work site or reviewed accident rates in the construction industry, then this should be news to you. However, this should not make you label all construction sites as unsafe workplaces.
It is the goal of every contractor to mitigate the risk across his diverse labor force while acknowledging the potentially devastating effects of accidents. Much of the most sought-after construction technologies today are those meant to help contractors improve safety, productivity, and profitability. Other famous technologies concentrate on assisting companies in streamlining their operations from communications to revolutionizing collaboration.
Despite the numerous attempts by contractors to keep their workers secure, construction sites remain hazardous environments. Fortunately, there are several technologies that contractors can employ to enhance overall site safety for both workers and the industry stakeholders involved. According to OSHA, Contractors can save more than 631 workers annually by adopting these technologies. Here are some of the techs that contractors can use to enhance safety on construction sites, as discussed below:
Drones
Most contractors have started using drones to survey their ongoing construction projects. Drones are free aerial cars that can be employed to accomplish various tasks. Since the establishment use of drones’ regulations by the Federal Aviation Administration in 2016, many contractors have used it to enhance their construction site safety.
In the construction sector, drones are used to survey sites, inspect buildings under construction, and develop promotional videos. They make construction sites safer because they easily spot potential hazards while conducting inspections.
Contractors use them to spy employees to make sure that they are working safely. They also use them to take photos which every worker can use to track the progress of the construction project without even physically visiting the site.
Virtual Reality
Surgeons and pilots have always used virtual reality simulators for training purposes; the same can be replicated to train site workers to operate cranes, doing masonry, and wielding amongst others. Safety and equipment operator training are two main specialties where VR could affect the construction sector soon.
If all contractors could embrace the virtual reality technologies when training new employees, then the number of site accidents could reduce while eliminating the fear attached to operating heavy machinery.
Site Sensors
Some companies have created unique site sensors that can be used to regulate things like noise levels, dust particulates, volatile organic compounds, and temperatures to ensure the safety of all the workers.
The sensors are typically mounted throughout the site and can alert the workers when there is a danger. Information from these sensors helps to reduce exposure levels and remain compliant with the OSHA regulations.
Safety Cones will Enhance Construction Site Safety
As the major highways in the US ages, many contractors are concentrating on improving and rebuilding existing roadways. This implies that more construction projects are underway insignificant roads. In the same breath, there is traffic congestion due to these roadway projects.
To avoid these congestions, many contractors are opting to work at night. Safety cones are continuously used to increase the visibility of construction workers at night and thus reduce the probability of accidents while they are at work.
They are used to redirect the motorists or traffic to other areas so that the construction can go on as planned without any problem.
Wearables
Smart wearables can be advantageous to site workers who are performing hazardous jobs since the environment is monitored and tracked. They can detect signs of danger, such as heat, gas, and lack of motion. Such wearable usually is designed as a hard hat and safety vest that incorporate GPS, wearable computers, and sensors.
Smart wearables can track workers movements, posture, and know if the employee has experienced fatigue while on duty. Construction workers can rest assured, knowing that their colleagues or supervisors will be informed immediately if there is an accident.
Final Verdict
Building a high-class safety culture in a construction site does not occur overnight. But contractors can take advantages of the latest technology innovations such as safety cones, wearable, virtual reality, site sensors to make sure that their workers are safe at all times. This article has several technologies that contractors can use to improve site safety in 2019 and beyond.
