Unfortunately, the construction industry is not the safest one. On the contrary. According to the statistics, it is responsible for various injuries and fatalities. That’s precisely the main reason why we must do everything we can to make it safer.
People being stuck between objects, electric shocks, falls and many other incidents are some of the major safety risks, and it’s been like that for many, many years, and even decades. But is there something that can be done to change things for the better?
Luckily, there is. Recently, people turned to technology to help them come up with solutions that are going to make this industry a lot safer. And what did we receive as a helping hand? If you want to know, then keep reading!
Table of Contents
Amazing Innovations That Make Construction Safer
Digitalizing Safety Processes
Digitalizing safety processes play a vital role in driving any construction company’s safety culture. Namely, a lot of reputable construction firms are getting rid of paper-based checklists, forms, reports, and documents that make compliance truly exhausting.
One of the biggest reasons why digitalizing these processes is important is because it will help people become a lot more efficient and productive and simultaneously, save a lot of money and time and above all, it demonstrates your business’s ongoing commitment to the safety of the construction site.
One of the best examples of it is the PTWs (Permits to Work). Namely, they are usually required for activities and tasks that are potentially very risky, like lifting operations, hot works, working at heights, demolition, etc.
It is a formal process and is frequently demanded by the statutory authorities. This process makes sure that work is properly planned, that the risk has been evaluated, and that there’s a procedure to go back to the work area to a safe state when the task has been done.
Moving On To AI CCTV Towers
It seems like in the past couple of years, a lot of companies have begun turning to artificial intelligence due to the fact that they perceive it as more reliable and effective in comparison to humans.
The same goes for the construction industry. But what’s so great about AI CCTV Towers? Namely, by using mobile CCTV towers with A.I., people can augment and at times, even replace guards because they utilize AI to trigger alerts. Moreover, an end user can mark an area they want the camera to monitor and, at the same time, specify when to watch it, what the response should be (if one is required) and what to look for.
Furthermore, these towers are capable of leveraging security budgets and guards while enhancing situational awareness. Generally speaking, this tool is ideal for high-risk construction projects.
Adding More Informative Facts Below
Let’s Not Forget The Drones
What’s spectacular about them is the fact that they are revolutionizing how inspections are executed. A vast majority of inspections are executed at great heights, which means that anyone who does them is at high risk.
But that’s why drone technology is here. It makes construction site inspections a lot safer since they can be done remotely while the employee stays on the ground. It’s all because drones can go very high and go through tight spaces to provide you with high-quality pictures and videos.
Apart from inspecting the site, you can employ them to inspect big construction sites for risk factors, just to be sure that the environment is safe for everyone who works there. For instance, drones that have sensors can easily detect and let the workers know if there are any gas leaks or anything else that’s harmful.
Besides that, drones are also being used to supervise staff while they are at work, just to ensure that everybody is safe in every way. In combination with an AI-powered 3D imaging program, they can offer great insights to simplify transparency and improve the safety of the worksite.
Virtual Reality
Most of you have heard of virtual reality technology, but only when someone was talking about the entertainment and gaming industry. But did you know that this type of technology can be employed in this industry as well?
For what purposes? Believe it or not, for training. Relatively recently, Bechtel Construction has blasted off a virtual reality program where workers step into a virtual construction site where they will learn everything there is to know regarding the basics of construction site safety in a non-risky environment.
In addition, it enables people to stimulate hazards in such a way that you could probably never do in the real world. Plus, in this virtual reality, you can stimulate life-threatening mistakes, giving you a truly priceless experience.
The only “downside” of this sort of training is the fact that it’s pretty pricey, however, it’s definitely worth every penny because it has been shown to decrease the number of accidents at the site.
Besides being very beneficial, it is entertaining too, which is one of the reasons why so many people want to give it a try.
Spectacular Smart Clothing
Now, this is for sure something special. Namely, PPE (personal protective equipment) was designed to place a barrier between the hazards of a certain worksite and the body. Since technology has been more and more integrated into the workplace, it involves pieces of clothing worn for protection on the job site as well.
But what do these clothes look like? For instance, you can have a hard hat with built-in CO, and carbon monoxide detectors. Having the opportunity to alert your colleague of the presence of odorless, colorless CO could literally save a life.
Other kinds of smart clothing have better connectivity to a more comprehensive information grid. Namely, a geofence, which is an electronically developed virtual barrier, was designed to alert supervisors if by any chance an employee enters the forbidden area.
Other sorts of garments are here to measure employee physical signs like heart rate, breathing, and skin temperature.
There’s no denying that technology has positively influenced a variety of different industries, including this one. And by the virtue of it, it’s safe to say that the construction sector has become a lot more efficient and safer.
For some tips specifically for multi-site construction, please see the resource below.
Provided by construction management services experts, Sevan Multi-Site Solutions
