Technology That Improves Onsite Worker Safety
Date Posted: March 13, 2020
Posted In: Ideas, Workforce,
From Construction Executive: Technological advances are continuing to disrupt the construction industry. The worksites of today look entirely different from what they were just a few decades ago, and they’re still evolving. Nearly all aspects of construction can improve with the help of modern technology, but perhaps the most important is worker safety.
Though the industry has made significant strides in safety, 14 workers die on the job each day on average. This grim statistic is not unavoidable. Recent technological breakthroughs are helping construction companies reduce the risk of worksite injury and death.
WEARABLES
Wearable technology can help workers monitor factors like heart rate, fatigue and posture to determine if they’re in danger of exhaustion or other health-related risks. Some crews use these devices to alert employees if they get near a restricted or hazardous area. The vast majority of adopters in construction report that they’ve noticed a positive impact since integrating wearable devices. Despite this potential, most contractors haven’t adopted the technology.
AUGMENTED AND VIRTUAL REALITY
A growing number of businesses are using virtual reality to train their employees in a controllable environment before moving onto the real worksite. With VR training, workers could get used to working in hazardous areas before actually being at risk. Similarly, augmented reality can help workers on the job. AR goggles can show employees step-by-step instructions or updates from project managers in real-time as they work.
DRONES
Drones have a variety of applications within the construction site. Companies can use remote-controlled aircraft to perform thorough safety audits or gain a bird’s-eye view while monitoring progress. Drones not only optimize the efficiency of these tasks, but they decrease their risks. Companies can also use drones as a security measure. Camera-equipped machines hovering over a worksite can be a strong deterrent against would-be trespassers.