According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA), the construction industry accounts substantially for physical worker injuries, with thousands of construction workers sustaining fall injuries every year. Fast-expanding firms must prioritize construction site safety by promoting a digital culture within their organizations.
Construction managers can significantly strengthen their defense mechanism against worksite injuries by deploying robust contractor safety management software and solutions. Tools such as the SmartBarrel device can help you weed out accidents at construction sites.
Key features of construction safety software
Monitoring the status of worker safety on site is crucial for construction project managers. While time and finances need to be invested in safety training, verifying reports can take a long time.
Making the job site ideal for workers to operate can be a trying ordeal, but tools have significantly streamlined the process. With digitally integrated data, construction safety is now something you can ensure for workers.
Construction management software provides the supervisor with updates on the live status of on-site staff. This includes their progress, activities, and safety measures.
Here are some key features that your construction safety management software should have:
- An accompanying app – A simple app can help you track safety officers, project managers, and supervisors remotely. You’d ideally reach workers if you flag something dangerous through an integrated communication feature. Instantly conveying specific operational instructions can prevent injuries.
- Documentation storage – Having a place to store documents related to safety training and incidents allows you later access to confirm their validity. Some storage systems work with cloud computing, making information accessible at all times from different devices.
- Centralization – Ideally, construction site safety software documentation would be localized, ensuring that information is always accurate and updated.
- Integration – Having software that can integrate with other existing solutions gives you more fluidity in managing your construction site, especially with physical gadgets like the SmartBarrel device, which collects data for you.
Millions of construction workers operate on thousands of projects per day in the US. Prioritizing the safety of your construction site with an affordable construction management tool is a wise investment.
How can construction safety software minimize risks?
Getting struck by moving objects, electric shocks falls, and getting entangled in objects are just some of the common factors leading to workplace injuries. The risk continues to grow as you scale your projects up, so the best way to mitigate risk is to look for viable digital tools. Here are some additional ways to reduce risk:
- Digitizing the safety process
Forward-thinking construction firms have done away with pen and paper documentation methods. Digitizing your reports, forms, documents, and checklists can save you money and time. Most importantly, digitized documents are accessible from anywhere and at any time. It becomes effortless to monitor and manage your workers.
For instance, you’d need PTWs (Permits to Work) for high-risk projects. Whether for blasting, working at heights or in confined places, or lifting operations, you’ll need to follow an authorized process.
With electronic documentation available, you have greater accountability and transparency, enhancing the level of visibility across different projects. You can also access information in just a few clicks.
- Tracking workers with wearables
Construction workers need to put on physical wearables based on the risk exposure of each project. These are devices aimed at keeping workers safe, and can significantly reduce risk by providing timely updates on upcoming dangers. Moreover, they can detect toxic gasses with sensors.
This is where digitized inventory management comes in handy. Construction managers can remotely track whether or not their staff is using the stipulated wearables to prevent workplace injuries.
- Leveraging localization technology
As a construction project manager, you need to have life-saving technology handy to deploy in emergencies. Along with localization, wearables can effectively serve this purpose.
In case of an incident, supervisors and project managers can instantly identify affected workers and launch a rescue mission. GPS-enabled tools simplify locating workers, mainly when they operate in remote areas.
- Providing safety training
While most construction firms prioritize safety training, it makes sense to have a powerful solution to convey messages to workers.
Advanced tools can help you organize data, and view worker profiles and their prior learning records, certifications, and qualifications. In this way, digital tools can refine the training process.
Some of these tools also come with various features like generating PDFs, briefing templates, tracking the attendance of workers, and recording sessions. All these features enable construction managers to ensure timely training of their workers.
Construction safety software benefits everyone
It pays to have powerful construction site safety software to balance preventive measures with real-time monitoring. Feature-packed construction management software goes a long way in determining the risk profile of your staff.
With remote monitoring, you can seamlessly track the status of your workers and convey necessary commands to site supervisors. Investing in customized construction management software lets you capitalize on the power of digitization for comprehensive safety.