Safety Tech Boosts Productivity, Contractors Say
Date Posted: August 22, 2022
Posted In: Discussion,
From ConstructionDive: As Hensel Phelps looks for better ways to improve on all things safety, the multinational contractor is piloting technology solutions like Edify, an app designed to create safety-minded culture within construction companies.
Every morning, Hensel Phelps workers log in and answer a seemingly simple question: Why do you want to be safe today?
Their answers are generally thoughtful, sometimes poignant. They post pictures of their families or mention an anniversary dinner with their spouse that night.
“They’re not just filling it out to fill it out,” said Thai Nguyen, chief innovation officer for the Greeley, Colorado, firm. “It gets them to think: What am I doing today? What is important to me? Getting that engagement and commitment moving forward goes a long way.”
While Hensel Phelps’ investment in safety technology is all about “getting that individual home safe that day,” Nguyen said, Edify does a lot more than that. The platform’s use of AI to analyze reams of data collected from the field also tracks and improves productivity.
“It’s symbiotic,” Nguyen said.
Increasing Investment
Construction is a notoriously dangerous industry, accounting for 6% of the overall workforce in the U.S., but about 20% of worker deaths, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2020, 1,008 construction workers suffered fatal work injuries — more than any other worker segment.
While that percentage is still too high, the industry’s increased use of advanced technologies, including wearables, sensors, AI tools and extended-reality platforms, is driving improvement, experts say.