Technology to Improve Safety in Construction
March 5, 2018
According to a recent survey conducted by Dodge Data & Analytics, the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), and United Rentals, contractors and construction workers are beginning to use a range of emerging technologies, including drones, laser scanning, and wearable devices to improve workplace safety. Safety advocates expect that these innovative new technologies will improve jobsite safety and significantly reduce the number of workplace injuries that occur in the construction industry.
Highlights from the Survey
While 62 percent of contractors said that they do not use any of the new safety technologies available, as awareness grows and the benefits are more widely accepted, it is likely that they will become more commonly used soon. Over 330 contractors participated in the survey, revealing the following results:
- More than 82 percent of workers that used wearable devices said that the technology had a positive impact on safety, as did 76 percent of workers who used laser scanners, and 70 percent of workers who used drones.
- Nearly 70 percent of contractors said that building information modeling (BIM) improved safety, an increase of almost 30 percent since 2012.BIM is a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility. They are significantly more useful than a hand or computer-drafted drawing. Contractors who use BIM consistently use more safety practices and experience more benefits from their investments, including a greater willingness to report unsafe work conditions, and lower rates of reportable injuries.
- Over 50 percent of general contractors and 34 percent of trade contractors responded that they are aware of the Prevention through Design (PtD) initiative, which aims to prevent or minimize workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities by taking the following steps:
– Eliminating hazards and making sure that workplace risks are kept at an acceptable level
– Designing, redesigning, and retrofitting new and existing structures, facilities, equipment, and machinery, as well as work processes and the organization of work
– Ensuring a safe work environment by including prevention methods that keep workers safePtD focuses on workers who are responsible for executing the designs, or who work with the products of the design. - Ninety-six percent of general contractors and 70 percent of trade contractors said that superintendents use their mobile devices while on the job, and 85 percent of all contractors use their mobile phone cameras on worksites. This enables contractors to document site conditions and work progress to improve safety.
- Thirty-three percent of general contractors use online safety training, compared to 27 percent of trade contractors, and this disparity is likely to grow.
Baltimore Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Advocate for Victims of Workplace Injuries
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured while on the job, the Baltimore Workers’ Compensation lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton are on your side. You deserve a safe work environment, free of hazards or potentially dangerous conditions. We will help you navigate the complex claims and appeals process and ensure that you receive the maximum financial compensation you deserve. We will not stop fighting for you until you are completely satisfied. To schedule a free, confidential consultation, do not hesitate to call us at 844-556-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
