Smart technology is revolutionizing construction safety and lowering insurance costs, but it’s not always easy to see how.
Imagine a construction site where accidents are virtually non-existent, where workers are constantly aware of their surroundings, and potential hazards are identified and addressed in real-time.
Ensuring safety on construction sites is of incredible importance as it protects workers’ lives and well-being, maintains productivity, and upholds the industry’s reputation. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), one in ten construction workers is injured every year, and the industry accounts for nearly 20% of all worker fatalities in the United States. These alarming statistics highlight the urgent need for improved safety measures in construction.
By integrating advanced devices and systems, construction companies can enhance safety protocols, reduce the incidence of accidents, and manage risks more effectively. These measures not only protect workers – they also lead to significant savings on insurance premiums. Let’s go over the risks contractors face, various types of smart technology used in construction, their impact on safety, and the financial benefits they bring to the industry.
Quantifying the risks
The construction industry is inherently risky. These risks not only jeopardize worker safety but also lead to significant project delays and financial losses. Let’s start by looking at the risks that contractors face.
- Safety: Construction sites present numerous safety hazards.A few common risks include:
- Falls from large heights
- Overexertion of workers
- Accidents while driving
- Falling objects and equipment
- Harmful substance exposure
- Communication: Because contractors often work with many other people, it can be incredibly difficult to simplify communication between teams and get in contact quickly.
- Environment: Construction work often contributes to many types of pollution. Contractors may also discover hazardous chemicals onsite that create unsafe working conditions.
Even though each of these risks can be prevented, many contractors fail to address them properly. Using the correct safety measures at sites is vital to protecting the lives of construction workers, and smart technology is a great way to prevent these risks from turning into an injury or, even worse, a fatality.
With the technology out there today, we can do better.
A real problem
Despite the resources, construction workers today continue to work in unsafe environments. Here is a real example of how a lack of safety led to injury and death.
In June of this year, the day started as it always did at the University of Chicago Cancer Pavilion construction site. One thing was different, though: high-speed winds were reported throughout the area that day. Some passersby even saw the scaffolding at the site swaying.
When the wind reached its highest speed around noon, people witnessed two construction workers fall from the swaying scaffolding, which was not yet secured to the building. David O’Donnell died as a result of the fall, and Jeffrey Spyrka sustained serious injuries. It was unknown if either man was wearing fall arrest equipment at the time of the incident.
The construction companies, Turner and Adjustable Concrete, are now accused of negligence for failing to stop work at such heights with such intense winds. Employees had even expressed concerns over the scaffolding’s stability a few days before the incident.
Spyrka’s suit alone is seeking $200,000 in damages. With the potential cost of O’Donnell’s case added to this, the contracting companies will most likely be facing extreme financial repercussions for their failure to implement correct safety measures that day.
Perhaps smart technology could have addressed some of these safety hazards before they resulted in someone’s death.
If the contractors had been using augmented reality tools, business information modeling, or technology that surveys site conditions, Turner and Adjustable could have prevented their workers from going up on the scaffolding in unsafe conditions.
Additionally, if the workers had been required to wear protective equipment equipped with smart technology, this equipment could have assessed the wind speeds and warned the workers of the dangers of being on scaffolding in those conditions.
What technology can be integrated into a construction site?
Below are some of the most useful safety technology measures contractors can implement:
- Wearable smart technology can both physically protect a worker and provide safety evaluations before a worker is exposed to a dangerous situation. This technology can track vitals, survey unsafe conditions, and even provide medical help. Helmets, vests, and glasses can all be upgraded with sensors and devices that sense unsafe surroundings.
- Drones can perform a large range of functions and:
- Evaluate site safety from above and report on progress
- Helplift heavy objects
- Reach areas where humans cannot go
- Alert contractors to unsafe conditions
- The Internet of Things (IoT) is a vast web of equipment and devices monitored by the contractor. It essentially simplifies the supervision of equipment and the environment, stopping problems before they start. IoT sensors can ensure safety by reporting on building integrity, environmental conditions, and machine conditions.
- Remote-controlled machinery can promote the safety of construction workers by keeping them out of high-risk areas.
- Building Information Modeling (BIM) allows many parts of a construction site to be evaluated remotely, removing the risk of having people enter a potentially dangerous area that has not been surveyed before. This software creates virtual 3D models of a construction site so that contractors can be more equipped to assess their risk accurately and ensure their workers’ safety.
- Augmented and virtual reality can help workers experience the ins and outs of a site before they enter the environment. Augmented and virtual reality can also report safety hazards in real time when used onsite.
- Collaborative tools allow contractors and workers to help each other in real time and avoid unsafe conditions. Additionally, these tools can lessen miscommunication between different construction teams, and in the event of an incident, emergency responders can be contacted more promptly.
When used correctly, smart technology is predicted to reduce construction injuries by 60%.
Smart equipment can help save on insurance
Contractors who integrate smart technology save on insurance. A POWERS client saved $62,000 because he implemented safety technology. The safer a site becomes, the less likely an insurance company will need to pay a claim, and as a result, contractors can get a discount of up to 50% by integrating smart equipment into their job sites.
Act today
Insurance alone is not enough to fully protect your business. Managing risk involves looking at your business from all angles and identifying the gaps that could cause a claim. Your risk management advisor should help you plan for the unexpected and protect your financial status with insurance policies that stand up for your business during unfortunate events.
Does your insurance agent help your business thrive? Have they helped you implement a safety program that reduces your overall risks? If not, we can help!
At POWERS Insurance & Risk Management, we stand by your side. We understand the unique risks that construction businesses face. We want to help you understand those risks, so you can make informed business decisions.
Schedule a free consultation today.