Construction Tech Enhancing Jobsite Safety and Efficiency
Construction sites are a hazardous and risky work environment, and there are often accidents that could cause serious injury or even death.
As such, the safety of the construction crew is a priority. There are already various safety protocols, equipment, and procedures to reduce risk and promote safety.
However, modern construction sites bring new threats and challenges for the protection of workers. As such, new and innovative technology has also been developed to enhance job site safety and efficiency.
Construction Site Sensors
Construction site sensors can help companies improve safety conditions by gathering valuable data about the worksite. The sensors would track various conditions around the construction site like; site temperature, toxicity levels, air pollution, and quality, and many more.
For example, there are rubber speed bumps throughout construction sites to monitor vehicles that pass over them. This is for tracking the vehicles to ensure proper traffic management for the safety of workers in the area.
Data gathering and analysis could help companies construct adequate safety protocols and guidelines to ensure their workers’ good health and safety. Automated sensors that are set up throughout the construction site can detect hazardous elements like toxic substances that could endanger the health of workers.
There are even sophisticated AI monitoring software that use image recognition technology and artificial learning to examine videos and photos.
This advanced AI monitoring software can identify potential safety threats like; workers wearing unsuitable safety gear, mismanagement and mishandling of equipment, unauthorized personnel in secure areas, and other hazardous situations found in construction sites. Ensuring that the workers have a safe and productive environment to work in
Virtual Reality for Training
Virtual Reality technology has advanced to the point that it can be used for training simulations. For example, in the Construction Industry, virtual reality can be used for the safety training of workers to handle advanced machinery and new equipment or even train in emergency procedure simulations.
Virtual reality allows for workers to train for any dangerous situations while still being in a controlled and safe environment. The simulations would enable the workers to get valuable experience and knowledge to face any potential hazard or problem properly.
This high quality of workers through virtual training would lead to fewer accidents and safety incidents in the actual job site, which would mean fewer incident costs and higher productivity.
Wearable Devices
In the construction industry, wearable devices are an integral part of the safety net to protect workers. There are various types of safety wearables, from tactile wearables to sensory wearables. There are also smart wearables that provide users with multiples uses and features.
For example, Smartwatches could be used to monitor a worker’s health data and activity. It could monitor health data like; heart rate, amount of steps traveled, and blood oxygen saturation to ensure that the workers are all healthy enough to continue working.
Robots and Drones in Construction Sites.
Robots and automation have been around for a long time. However, it is only recently that The construction industry has adopted robots. Having robots do jobs that are too dangerous for human workers is the next step towards the future of the construction industry.
Robots would also not feel fatigued, so there are no health risks in having them work for long hours and do arduous tasks. Robots could also increase the overall productivity and efficiency of construction.
Drones can also increase the safety and efficiency of construction sites by being used as aerial surveying tools that can spot structural problems or monitor project progress. Drones could also be used to monitor overall Jobsite safety by looking for any potential hazards.
Building Information Modeling or BIM
Any building project’s design phase is vital in identifying any potential structural or environmental problems that the construction might encounter. As such, to avoid any dangerous situations during the actual construction, there should be virtual tests and safety checks in BIM.
The proper planning and designing of structures could also be made easier by using Building Information Modeling to have an accurate 3D depiction of the intended project.
Companies should take advantage of advancements in safety technology to ensure that workers are adequately equipped and trained to handle any potentially dangerous situation. Keeping workers safe is a priority, and the increased safety precautions would increase worker morale, productivity, and efficiency.
